THE waiting is almost over and the countdown to Christmas is set to start in style at Droitwich's big Christmas lights switch-on event tomorrow (Saturday).

But while a festive day packed full of family fun awaits, organisers of the town's Christmas celebrations have some very special offerings to ensure the festive feeling continues right up until the big day itself.

The switch-on event will see the launch of the new ‘Christmas Times’ campaign.

The campaign, which runs from December 1 until Christmas Eve, features discount vouchers and the Droitwich Advent Calendar, with a gift idea and prize every day.

Local businesses are offering some fantastic deals to entice shoppers into the town centre for their Christmas shopping, to enjoy a meal or indulge in some pampering.

Forty businesses are taking part ranging from shops and eating places to hairdressers and beauty salons. Discount vouchers are available from venues throughout the town or can be downloaded from visitdroitwichspa.com.

The Droitwich Advent Calendar features a whopping £1,500 prize fund. There are some fantastic prizes on offer, including gift vouchers, free meals, pamper sessions, free gifts, discount and free gym membership.

Each day there will be a gift idea and prize donated by a local business, with extra prizes at weekends. The bumper prize is worth over £700 and will be drawn on Christmas Eve.

Entry to the Advent Calendar competition is free by going to visitdroitwichspa.com and liking the Facebook page. Competition posts will be sent out daily and the winners announced the following day.

Janet Yates, Droitwich Spa Business Partnerships Manager for Wychavon District Council, hopes the initiatives will be a welcome boost for shoppers and traders alike in the run up to Christmas.

“The ‘Christmas Times’ campaign is a fantastic way to encourage shoppers to support their local businesses during this busy shopping period," she said. “The combination of discount vouchers, gift ideas and prizes is a great combination and it’s good that so many businesses are taking part”

The campaign is a collaboration between Wychavon District Council, town businesses and the company who produced the town’s visitor guide and website.

For further information either visit the website or the information stall in the High Street between 2pm and 8pm tomorrow (Saturday).