Christmas lights are switched on in West Sussex

In Chichester, the tree will be blessed at The Cross on the afternoon of Saturday, November 27. Before the ceremony, a candle and lantern procession will take place from Priory Park to The Cross, where there will be carol-singing.

There will be a winter market from 9am to 5pm daily from December 9 to 12 in East Street and North Street. Stalls will stay open until 8pm on Thursday 9 for late-night shopping. There will also be late night-shopping on December 16 and 23.

The Rotary Club of Chichester will supply spiced hot drinks and hot chestnuts on each of the late-night shopping dates.

The Christmas lights in Bognor Regis will be switched on at 4.30pm on Saturday, November 27, by Spirit FM presenter and panto extrodinaire Kevin King and five-year-old Sophie Nugent.

The town has new lights, a different colour scheme and new creative designs.

As well as the big switch on, there will be a variety of entertainment for all ages.

A family of reindeer will be strutting down the concourse of the town’s railway station and there will be a craft market at the station, and a Santa’s grotto.

Midhurst Town Council will host the town’s Christmas party on the evening of Friday, December 10.

Many shops in the town centre will stay open late and there will be soup and refreshments laid on.

In Market Square there will be entertainment for all ages, from jugglers and unicyclists and free fairground rides for children. There will be Christmas music and toffee apples and hot chestnuts complete the Christmas picture.

The fun kicks off at 6.30pm.

Arundel has plenty of festive fun planned.

On Saturday, December 4, the Rotary Club’s Spirit of Christmas event, from 3-6pm in the town centre, features singing and dancing from the Sompting Village Morris Dancers and the Sompting Tipteers, a Mummers drama group who will be performing a Christmas musical with a twist.

At 5pm the Duchess of Norfolk will switch on the Christmas lights and illuminate the town’s tree, which for the first time will be cut from the Norfolk Estate.

Saturday, December 11, is the date for the popular Arundel by Candlelight event when, from 1pm, the town’s streets will close to traffic to accommodate the thousands of people attending.

Market Square at Petworth is the place to be on Saturday, December 4, when the switching-on of the lights takes place at 6.30pm.

Town councillors have been hard at work with volunteers decking out the town with lights and decorations and dressing the tree.

There will be festive stalls around the town centre selling goodies during the afternoon and evening and carousel rides for children in the Market Square. Mulled wine will be on offer in the Leconfield Hall and carol singing will take place under the tree.

There are surprises in store when Emsworth turns on its lights.

Father Christmas will be visiting, but exactly how he gets to the square is top secret.

And even if it fails to snow for the lights switch-on, on Saturday, December 4, a snow machine will recreate the real thing.

Festivities get under way at 3.30pm, when there will be music in Emsworth Square, and mulled wine and mince pies for adults, and sweets for children.

There is a Christmas market taking place in South Street car park between 10am and 4pm on Sunday, December 5.

Selsey will be celebrating Christmas in its usual style - but with a subtle difference.

The event on Saturday, November 27, will see activities throughout the afternoon along High Street rather than the evening. Shops along the High Street will be participating and the lights will be switched on at 5pm.