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 coming weeks.

The first switch-on event will take place this weekend in Halesowen on Saturday November 17.

The Christmas lights will be switched on in Dudley on Saturday November 24; in Brierley Hill on Friday November 30; and Stourbridge on Saturday December 1.

The Halesowen switch-on will run from 9am to 5pm. There will be three free children’s rides - a carousel, ferris wheel and chair-o-planes – running from 11am.

Around 30 stalls will make up a Christmas craft market, and there will also be a smaller street food market. Black Country Radio will be broadcasting live from the event and BBC WM’s Caroline Martin will also be there. Dudley Zoo will have a stand offering animal facepainting for youngsters and there will also be glassblowing demonstrations.

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 in Market Street, while youngsters will be able to meet TV favourites Paw Patrol throughout the afternoon in the Ryemarket Shopping Centre. The four-legged stars will also be helping with the official countdown to the Christmas lights 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 in the High Street.

Entertainment is still being finalised for the Dudley and Brierley Hill events, but both will feature a stage and children’s rides.

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.”