TOWN centres will sparkle for the festive season with spectacular events lined up to welcome Christmas to Tendring.

Preparations are well under way tomake it a Christmas to remember in Clacton, Frinton and Walton.

Fun-filled events will take over each town centre as they are lit up by festive decorations.

Details are now being released as organisers put the finishing touches to their seasonal crowd-pullers.

The Clacton event will start at 9am on Saturday, December 5, with a host of festive-themed stalls set up in the town square to help people get some Christmas shopping done.

Entertainment will start at 2pm with singers, dancers, cheerleaders, magicians and a DJ performing for shoppers. The Christmas tree will be set up in the town square and illuminated by panto star and boyband favourite Scott Robinson.

He will be joined in pushing the button by a community hero – yet to be selected.

The switch-on will take place at 5pm, followed by a spectacular fireworka display.

Clacton Town Partnership chairman Lisa Alligan said: “We’ve worked tirelessly to put this event on and it should be a great day for the whole family. We can’t wait.”

The town partnership group has also organised a late-night shopping event for Thursday, December 10.

Town-centre shops will stay open until 8pm, while the town square will have stalls, games and entertainment running through the day.

Mrs Alligan added: “We hope all shops in and around the town centre will support the event and remain open.

“This is a great opportunity to attract business, promote the positive image of Clacton and support our local economy.”

Frinton is also gearing up to provide some winter thrills with its late-night shopping event in Connaught Avenue on Friday, December 11.

The road will be closed as it is filled with a huge array of stalls, rides and entertainment.

A traditional window display competition will also be judged on the night.

It will run from 6pm to 9pm and has been organised by Frinton Chamber of Trade.

Chairman Jean Allen said: “We’re all looking forward to it and this is always a very special event.

“This is really our way of saying thank-you as traders to the whole community for their patronage and support over the last year.

“We want to put on a really enjoyable evening for the town.”

Walton’s Christmas festival will take place on Friday, December 4, with an event spread through High Street and Millennium Square.