A CHRISTMAS festival will be held in Stretford in the run-up to the yuletide season.

The event is being organised by the Friends of Stretford Public Hall over the weekend of Friday, December 7 to Sunday, December 9.

The festival will be launched on the Friday with a Christmas lights switch on at the hall at 6.45pm, which will include the unveiling of the Stretford advent calendar by the Mayor of Trafford Councillor Tom Ross.

The switch on will be followed at 7.30pm by will be followed by a sing-a-long Christmas concert with the Stretford Singers, led by choirmaster Hannah Newcomb, who will open the evening with a few seasonal songs before the audience is encouraged to join in.

Tickets for this event are £4 per person or £3 concessions which are expected to sell fast so people are advised to get them as soon as possible. There will also be a waiting list, which latecomers can sign up to in case tickets become available.

On Saturday, there will be a free to enter Christmas Fair, from noon to 4pm, which will include Christmas choirs, live music, family activities including children’s crafts and face painting, hot food, cake stall, drinks, tombola and a raffle. Children will also be able to visit Santa in his grotto.

New at the fair this year will be a range of artisan stalls selling handmade goods. The fair starts at noon and runs until 4pm.

On the Sunday, the Christmas Community Cinema will be screening the festive classic Home Alone. The film starts at 2pm and is priced at £3 per adult and £2 per child or £8 for a family ticket, which includes two adults and two children.

Annoushka Deighton, the chairman of the group, said: “Our Christmas-themed weekend is a great opportunity to come to the hall and participate in a number of festive events to get you in the mood for Christmas.

All funds raised from the Christmas festival will go to the charity Friends of Stretford Public Hall, to support the renovation and upkeep of the hall.