Street food, children’s rides and festive craft markets will feature at Christmas lights switch-ons in Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen and Brierley Hill over the next few weeks.

The first switch-on event will take place in Halesowen on Saturday November 17th with Dudley's big switch on, on Saturday November 24th. Brierley Hill will be lit up on Friday November 30th and Stourbridge on Saturday December 1st.

The Halesowen event will run from 9am to 5pm, with free children’s rides running from 11am. Around 30 stalls will make up a Christmas craft market, while there will also be a smaller street food market. Black Country Radio will be broadcasting live from the event whilst Dudley Zoo will have a stand offering animal face painting for youngsters.

In Stourbridge, the festivities will run from 9am to 5pm including live entertainment on two stages in Crown Square and Fountain Square. There will be children’s rides on Market Street, while youngsters will also be able to meet TV favourites from Paw Patrol throughout the afternoon in the Ryemarket Shopping Centre. The four-legged stars will also be assisting with the official countdown to the Christmas light switch-on from the main stage, from 4:45pm onwards.

Father Christmas will be in his grotto in the Ryemarket between 11am and 4pm, and there will be a Christmas craft and food market on High Street. Councillor Alan Taylor, the Mayor of Dudley, said:

"The Christmas lights switch-on events are always really well supported by residents in our borough towns. It helps to build excitement and Christmas spirit, and I hope lots of people will turn out to get the festive season off to a great start.”