The countdown to Christmas gets underway as early as this weekend.
Here at the Examiner we’ve compiled a guide to dates and details of Christmas Light Switch-ons in and around Huddersfield.
If there are others then please email the date, time and details to joanne.douglas@examiner.co.uk and it will be added to our guide.
Saturday November 11
Cleckheaton
Christmas Light Switch on and Victorian Christmas Festival: at Cleckheaton Town Hall, Market Street and Savoy Square.
The market begins at 9am with over 75 stalls of foods, seasonal gift idea, toys, jewellery, Christmas cards and festive decorations.
There’s themed street entertainers, a fairground, the Savoy Square will play host to Punch and Judy show. Entertainment includes a traditional brass band and street entertainers throughout.
The lights switch on is at 5pm.
Saturday, November 18
Honley
Honley Christmas Lights switch-on in Honley Park including fairground rides, plus on stage entertainment from local groups and musicians commencing at 3pm through to 7.30pm.
The entertainment includes Hope Bank Works Community Choir and Youth Band performing traditional Christmas music and carols. Santa will be in his grotto and children can take part in a special Santa Treasure Hunt throughout the park. It has been organised by Honley Business Association and there will be 140 Christmas trees lit up throughout the village.
The traditional Christmas parade congregates outside St Mary’s Church at 6.15pm where the Yorkshire Traction Honley Band will lead the procession, including Santa on his sleigh.
They will proceed down Church Street, along Westgate and into Honley Park where the big lights switch on will take place at around 7pm performed by Honley’s very own pet shop boys.
Saturday November 18
Huddersfield town centre
The Christmas Light Switch On with Jake Quickenden and Huddersfield Town mascot Terry the Terrier.
Experience a whole range of Christmas activities from meeting Father Christmas from 11am to 3pm with festive music as you shop.
The light switch on will be from 5pm with Jake Quickenden, as seen on The X Factor and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! and Terry the Terrier switching the lights on at 6pm.
Sunday November 19
Linthwaite
The Linthwaite Christmas Lights Big Switch-On takes place at Linthwaite Clough School with a variety of stalls, warm food and drinks.
Doors are open to the public from 1pm-4.30pm followed by The Big Switch-On at 5pm down at the tree.
Saturday November 25
Slaithwaite
From 4pm, outside the Shoulder of Mutton pub.
There will be events around the village all day then the community can gather at the big tree on Church Street from 4pm for the switch-on at 5pm with fireworks and a visit from Father Christmas.
Holmfirth
From 2pm-4pm there will be a Santa’s Grotto at the bus station; from 4.30pm there’s a lantern parade from the Methodist Church followed by the Switch On; then from 5pm onwards there’s entertainment around the bus station.
Brighouse
The Victorian Christmas Festival is on Saturday and Sunday November 25 and 26.
There’s a Christmas Market of over 80 stalls full of locally produced foods and crafts.
Saturday’s Market will draw to a close with a visit by Father Christmas in a horse drawn carriage pulled by two shire horses from 4pm.
On the Sunday there’s a Christmas Service conducted by members of local churches and community Carol singing.
Halifax
Halifax Christmas Lights Switch On is at 5.30pm on Russell Street/Woolshops.
The event runs from 2pm-6pm with entertainment on stage from 4pm. Stilt walkers and fire breathers can be found at Woolshops Shopping Centre, face painters and balloon modellers in Halifax Borough Market and entertainers across the town centre.
The light switch on will take place at 5.30pm at the top of Woolshops.
Heckmondwike:
HeckmondLIGHT returns this November with an evening of light and fire artworks on Saturday November 25.
This is the official Illuminations Switch On event in Heckmondwike, a town with an Illuminations tradition that is over a century old.
It gets underway in Market Hall from 3pm – 6:30pm (£2 tickets available in advance) and Green Park from 5pm – 8pm, where there will be new and interactive artworks made from light in all its guises from gas lamps, flames, fireworks, electric and LEDs. It ends with the Christmas Lights Switch-on.
Sunday November 26
Mirfield
Mirfield Christmas Lights Switch On and High Street Festival 2017
From 12pm-6pm with live entertainment, a family funfair, donkey rides, festive food and craft stalls.
The fun fair is in the library car park runs form midday, at 2pm there’s the Christmas window display competition and live music begins. The Food and Craft market runs from 3pm in the Co-op car park, followed by the lights switched on.
Friday December 1
The Roberttown Village Christmas Lights Switch on is taking place on Friday December 1.
Santa will ride through the village on his sleigh, starting from the New Inn roundabout at 5.15pm. He will switch on the lights in the Jubilee Garden at 5.30pm and will then make his way to the Grotto in the church, where he will meet children from 5.45pm until 8pm. The Main Street will be closed to through traffic between 5.10 and 7.30pm.
There will be dance displays, a brass band, funfair rides and a mini Christmas Market with craft stalls.
Saturday December 2
Marsden
Marsden’s much-loved annual family-friendly Christmas Lights Switch-on returns to the village on Saturday December 2.
A full day of activities, performances, food and drink kicks off inside the Mechanics Hall, Peel Street at 12.30pm (finishing 5.30pm), building up to the big switch-on outside the Hall at 6pm.
Entertainment in the Hall includes performances from choirs from the Marsden Infant and Junior schools, belly dancers, the Marsden Ukulele Band, plus new Marsden Strings group.
Santa Claus himself will be in residence in his Grotto at the Hall from 1-5pm. Peel Street becomes the scene of a Christmas Carnival from 4.30pm-6pm, with Santa welcomed by the Colne Valley Intermediate band, Thieving Magpie Morris dancers and the Marsden Old Boys and Unity Choir.
A barbecue provided by the Railway pub and mulled wine from Alastair Hanson Musical Instruments will help to keep out the winter chill.
Organisers are keen to recruit extra volunteers, to help out with stewarding on the day. If you are interested in getting involved and can spare between one and four hours on the day, please email marsdenchristmaslights@gmail.com.
Sunday December 3
Meltham
Meltham Christmas Lights switch-on is at Robert Ashton Memorial Park, 5pm onwards.
In a break of tradition, this year the Christmas Light Switch-on will be held as part of the Meltham Carols in the Park event at The Robert Ashton Memorial Park.
Join hundreds of others for a moment of reflection by candle light in the park and sing carols and hymns in the park.
Christmas
Wednesday December 6
Lindley
Late night Christmas shopping in Lindley, where the shops will host special events and the lights will be turned on. Time TBC.
Friday December 8
Elland
On Friday December 8, the traditional Elland Christmas Lights Switch-On will combine with a town centre market and a Lamplighter parade, put together by Calderdale based arts group, Handmade Parade.
In the run up to the parade, people are invited to take part in free workshops to create a lantern to carry during the parade.
Events have been taking place all year to mark 700 years since Elland was awarded a Royal Charter.
Handmade Parade brings artists and communities together to create parades, festivals and stunning celebrations.
Workshops are taking place at Croft House Community Room, on Crown Street in Elland on Saturday December 2 and Sunday December 3 from 11am-1pm and 2.30-4.30pm.
The Christmas Lights Switch-on begins with performances from schools from 2.30pm, a Christmas market, Santa’s Grotto and the prize draw for the ongoing Christmas Loyalty Card scheme at 5pm with the parade beginning at 6pm.
