Breckland towns prepare to light up for Christmas

Santa's Grotto in the King's Garden Coach House in Thetford, which will be open as part of the town council's Winter Wonderland event. Picture by David Brooks (Image: David Brooks)

This weekend Thetford, Watton and Swaffham will all be switching on their town's lights with festive refreshments and entertainment to mark the occasion.

Thetford's Christmas lights will be switched on at 6.15pm on Friday.

Ancient House Museum will be hosting a Victorian Christmas Mystery from 5pm to 8pm. There will be a craft and gift fair and Santa's Grotto in the Guildhall and live reindeer outside King's House from 5pm.

Watton's lights switch-on will be rather more musical. Taking place on Sunday from 1pm to 4pm, it will involve two and a half hours of entertainment from Dereham Town Band and City of Norwich Pipe Band before mayor Beryl Bunning switches on the lights at 4pm.

In the High Street there will be Scratby donkeys and reindeer, balloon modelling with Uncle Raz and Auntie Pearl, Arnie's attic characters, festive market stalls and a fun fair, plus Santa will be in his grotto in Wayland Hall (free entry).

In Swaffham the festivities on Friday will run from 2pm to 8pm.

Santa will be in his Grotto in Plowrights Place with two real reindeer, there will be an array of food, gift and craft stalls and a small children's fun fair, and musical entertainment from the Thursford steam organ, Fakenham Town Band and Swaffham's Oasis Church Singers.

The lights will be switched on at 6pm.

Thetford's much anticipated Winter Wonderland is also taking place this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Tickets for the paid-for attractions will be available at King's House and can also be purchased in advance at the lights switch-on.