SALTASH is ready to bring festive magic to young and old as the town stages its annual Christmas Festival.

This year’s event and switching on of the festive lights on Saturday, December 2, is being organised by Saltash Chamber of Commerce.

The fun will start in the morning with the opening of Santa’s Grotto in the Community Market room at 4 Fore Street.

Youngsters can go along from 10am to 4.30pm.

Saltash Town Band will be playing in Fore Street between 11am and 2pm.

At 1pm the procession of Santas on motorbikes will ride up through Fore Street, as in previous years, on their way to the Children’s Hospice at St Austell.

Saltash shops will be open during the festival, with no traffic passing through the street, so people can shop at leisure and enjoy refreshments at many locations in the town.

Entertainment will be held in Fore Street from 2pm onwards and will include Zig Zag the Wizard, street stiltwalkers, a family singalong, a fire show, and a performance by Tara’s School of Dance at 4.30pm.

Keen bakers should head over to the Bookshelf at 4.30pm, where a Christmas Bake Off session will be taking place.

Saltash Youngstagers will perform at 4.45pm, just before the Christmas lights are switched on.

At 5.45pm the spectacular lantern parade will start from the Guildhall and the day’s events will end with a firework display at 6.15pm.