There's a wonderful line up of events in Dewsbury to help everyone get in the mood for the Christmas break and make shopping a pleasure in the town.

The programme starts with an innovative twist in turning on the seasonal lights. Polar Lights on Wednesday 28 November promises to be a colourful procession of lanterns, designed, made and carried by children from Overthorpe and Eastthorpe Schools and from the Ravensthorpe Sports Action and Arts Group. Starting at 4.30 pm outside the newly renovated Market Hall, Dewsbury then goes Polar.

To a backdrop of Market stalls encircled with lantern igloos and icebergs, inhabited by lantern seals and penguins with snow flakes floating around, the procession will commence its journey through the streets of Dewsbury led by a special giant polar bear lantern, made by lantern artist Karima Ellis.The procession signals the turning on of the seasonal lights ending in Market Square with a firework finale.

The Christmas mood continues with an early evening Carol Concert at Dewsbury Minster. This starts at 6.00 pm and is sure to feature lots of favourites.

On two very special Saturdays - 1 and 15 December, Dewsbury hosts the Festive Fables Story Tour . This is a very innovative way of making Christmas shopping an event in itself, turning what can be a stressful experience into a fun day for all the family. Real family entertainment - Christmas stories and colourful variety, performed at various points in the town throughout the day - to take a break from the shopping and keep the children amused.

Each day's itinerary comprises:

11.00 am in Foundry Street - A Comedic Christmas Story - lots of laughs with a comic duo.

12.00 noon at Dewsbury Minster - Myths and Legends Tale - colourfully told by narrators in historic costumes 1.00 pm in The Princess of Wales Precinct - Mother Goose - enacted by local theatre group, The Dewsbury Collegians

2.00 pm - at Dewsbury Library - An Exciting Cultural Mix - Stalls and a variety of different cultural dance demonstrations to include Irish, Polish and Indian Folk.

3.00 pm in Market Place - The Elves and the Shoemaker - the charming story narrated by the Town Crier, followed by Sarah Taylor's dancers, Carols from a local Choir and Carnatic singing in four languages from Supriya Nagarajan of Manasamitra.

On the Wednesday market day (12 December) before Christmas you can treat yourself to a lunch-time Christmas Concert at Dewsbury Town Hall in the company of the University of Huddersfield Brass Band, who will be performing their brand new programme along with carols for the audience. 12.30 pm start.