Christmas arrives in Evesham this week with the switch-on of the lights.

Residents are in for four days of free festive fun, starting today.

First up is the arrival of the Rotary Club’s Tree of Light.

Standing at 100ft tall, the giant redwood will be lit up, raising money for local charities, with more than a quarter of a million already donated.

Bretforton Brass Band will be providing music as the Avon River Bridge closes for the night.

With Friday comes the main event, the switching on of the Christmas lights.

Musical entertainment begins from midday leading up to the switch on at 5.30pm by Father Christmas himself and the Town Crier.

This will be followed by a fireworks display to welcome in the holidays with a bang.

The weekend will see an artisan Christmas fayre take over the town, organised by the team behind the Battle of Evesham.

From 10am to 5pm on Saturday, November 26, Market Square and the church grounds will be filled with over 70 traders selling a variety of goods.

Meanwhile brass bands, local choirs and specialist musicians will provide etertainment in All Saints Church courtyard.

Santa’s Grotto will be open in the Riverside Shopping Centre from midday to 4pm while Wallace House will open from 10am to 3pm for a gift and crafts fayre.

Sunday, November 27, will see yet another day of festive fun with the artisan fayre and live entertainment returning from 10am to 4pm.

Full details of the live music schedule can be found below:

Saturday November 26

10:00 Musyck Anon, 16th Century Singers

10:50 Evesham Operatic and Dramatic Society

11:40 Shepherd's Crook Folk Choir

12:30 Musyck Anon, 16th Century Singers

13:30 Evesham Operatic and Dramatic Society

14:30 Shepherd's Crook Folk Choir

15:40 Avonbank Brass Band

17:00 Close

Sunday November 287

10:30 Georgina Hamilton, medieval recorder payer

11:20 Evesham Operatic and Dramatic Society

12:10 The National Rock Choir

13:00 Georgina Hamilton, medieval recorder payer

13:40 Celebration Reed Players

14:40 The National Rock Choir

15:30 Evesham Operatic and Dramatic Society

16:00 Close