SANTA RETURNS AS COUNCIL ARE CONTINUES TO ‘LIGHT UP FOR CHRISTMAS’

Santa Claus will make the long trip from the North Pole to visit Castlederg this Thursday before returning again on Thursday December 1st for the Newtownstewart switch on and finally Sion Mills on Tuesday December 6th.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Hilary McClintock, encouraged local people to get into the Christmas spirit by coming out and supporting the local switch on events.

“We are delighted that Santa Claus will take time out of his busy schedule to return to our District and light Castlederg, Newtownstewart and Sion Mills up for Christmas,” she said.

“This is a magical time of the year and the switch on events are always a highlight of Council’s Christmas programme, allowing people to come out and celebrate the start of the festive period together.

“There is a wide range of entertainment available at all three events with live music and special guests all helping to get people into the Christmas mood.”

This Thursday Santa will make his grand entrance in Castlederg by Morris Minor Fire Engine with the switch on taking place at 7.20pm.

Children celebrating their first Christmas are invited to come dressed up as Santas or Elves to help with the switch on and there will be live music from The Logues.

The action will start in Newtownstewart with a Children’s Party at the town’s 2000 Centre at 4pm before the lights switch on at 5.30pm and live music from Riff Raff performing in the Marquee.

Local shops in both Castlederg and Newtownstewart will stay open late on the night of their switch on with Christmas promotions and special offers available in stores and prizes for the best dressed windows in the town.

Santa will be back again for the Sion Mills Lights Switch On on December 6th where school choirs will add to the atmosphere with carol singing.

For more information on Council’s Christmas programme visit www.derrystrabane.com/christmas.