Douglas is set to dazzle on Thursday November 24 when the Christmas decorative lighting will be switched on from outside Douglas Town Hall at 7pm. Sponsored by Celton Manx and presided over by His Worship the Mayor of Douglas, Councillor Ritchie McNicholl, JP, the festivities will begin at 6.30pm when Santa’s grotto opens in the Ridgeway Street garden area adjacent to the Town Hall, Douglas Town Band plays carols and seasonal music and 3FM provides additional entertainment, then at 6.45 there will be guest appearances by cast members of ‘Dick Whittington’, this year’s pantomime at the Gaiety Theatre. Christmas in the capital begins officially at 7pm with the switching on of the lights and ‘snow’ falling in Ridgeway Street. A lantern parade will follow, organised by the Isle of Man Arts Council, forming in Nelson Street and making its way through the centre of town to the Villa Marina Gardens. Council Leader Councillor David Christian said: ‘We are delighted to be partnering with Celton Manx to create a truly festive family event. Christmas is a crucial time for Douglas traders and the Council, in association with the private sector, is committed to offering its fullest support to a spectacle that will attract visitors to the town and encourage people to shop locally.’ Motorists are advised that the section of Ridgeway Street between Lord Street and Victoria Street will be closed to traffic on November 24 between 6 and 10pm and parking will be suspended on the east side of Ridgeway Street between Lord Street and Athol Street from 10am to 10pm. November 24 also marks the start of pre-Christmas Thursday late-night shopping in Douglas…and the Henry Bloom Noble Library remains open year round every Thursday evening until 7.30pm. In addition, there will be free parking in Douglas Borough Council’s car parks at the Bottleneck and Shaw’s Brow on pre-Christmas Thursday evenings from 5pm beginning November 24 and at weekends up to December 25. There will also be free parking on designated sections of Douglas Promenade walkway from 9.30am to 9pm every day from November 24, 2011 to January 3, 2012. Parking will not be permitted in this area between the hours of 9.00pm and 9.30am. ENDS