A MARKET town is to launch its Christmas festivities this weekend.
The action will begin in Chester-le-Street at noon on Saturday outside the Holiday Centre on Front Street, when town crier Marjorie Dodds will introduce a programme of events.
For the rest of the afternoon, street entertainment will be provided by the town's Civic Choir, the Territorial Army Cadet Band, Lumley Castle Singers, the Salvation Army Band and the Churches Together Choir.
At 4.10pm, chairman of Chester-le-Street District Council, Councillor Tom Harland, will switch on the town's lights.
The following weekend, television personality Denise Robertson will open a Christmas fair at Durham County Cricket Club, at the Riverside in Chester-le-Street.
The fair will run from 11am to 3pm on Sunday and includes a children's fancy dress competition, magic and balloon modelling by 14-year-old Chris Hodgson, from Ryton.
In the evening, Chester-le-Street Riverside band will perform a Christmas Brass and Voices concert with Agape at the cricket club. Tickets cost £10 and include a hot supper.
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