By the end of this week people in Devizes will know that the countdown to Christmas has really begun.

The lantern parade and light switch-on will take place on Friday evening (Nov 29) with the parade starting at 6.15pm and Santa doing the honours with the lights outside The Bear in the Market Place at 6.45pm. Fireworks will follow.

Schools, family groups and other organisations have been hard at work creating lanterns to match the theme of Other Worlds to support the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

Rockets, aliens, stars and planets will feature. But anyone with a lantern is welcome to join in the parade.

But the fun will start much earlier in the day with a number of markets featuring handmade crafts and delicious food.

Devizes Town Band will be performing in t he Market Place from 5pm.

From 4pm to 9pm The Shimmer Tree will be lit up in the grounds of St John's Church. The tree created by artist Dan Fox is a six metre high sculpture with sound and light.

Thousands of people are expected to turn out to join in the celebration organised by Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts.