THE build up to the festive season is set to get underway in Halesowen and Blackheath this weekend with the annual Christmas lights switch on events.

Activities will be going on throughout Halesowen town centre on Saturday (November 18) from 9am, with Somers Square hosting a food and drinks fair.

Street food traders including Bavarian Swing Grill, TLC Creperie, Wild Wolf (Tex Mex) and Shake Waffle Roll, as well as real ales provided by brewery Blind Monkey and Swankys pop-up cocktail bar will keep visitors refreshed.

There will also be free vintage fairground rides, a Christmas market and entertainment from the Black Country Radio stage, which will have live choirs performing throughout the day.

The lights will then be officially turned on at 5pm by singer Stevi Ritchie, most famous for his reality TV appearances on the X Factor and Celebrity Big Brother, alongside Invictus gold and bronze medal winner Dave Watson.

Visitors to the town centre on Saturday will also be able to take up Dudley Council on their free day of parking offer.

Parking charges will be suspended in the council controlled car parks throughout Saturday, as well as for pre-Christmas shopping on December 16 and 23.

Halesowen North councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley’s cabinet member for environmental services, said: “We always offer free parking in our town centres in the run up to Christmas in order to help boost footfall for our hard-working traders and to encourage people to support their local towns during the festive period.

“This year, we’re planning to offer free parking all day on Saturdays to coincide with the Christmas lights switch on events for each of our larger town centres.

“This, alongside our standard free parking for stays of up to one hour in all council-run car parks, is yet another way in which we are showing we have listened to businesses and shoppers to help make their trips to town as convenient and beneficial as possible.”

The traditional start of Blackheath’s festivities also kick off on Saturday, with this year’s ‘Big Switch-on’ in High Street taking place from 3pm until 7pm – with the lights being turned on at 5pm.

The Mayor of Sandwell, Cllr Ahmadul Haque, will be the person responsible for pressing the button to light up the area and announce the start of the yuletide season.

Besides the Christmas goodies and food that local traders offer at the event, there will also be a children’s fun fair, market stalls, and the chance to support local charities.

Santa is visiting Blackheath Library and the open air stage will feature up and coming singers from Sandwell’s Coneygre Youth Arts Centre, along with school bands from around the area.

Residents and motorists are being reminded that road closures will be in operation around High Street from 1pm until 8pm.