THE festive season gets underway in Helmsley and Pickering this weekend.

Helmsley will celebrate Small Business Saturday on December 3, with businesses working together to create fun, games and activities for all the family.

Highlights include book signings, brass bands, choirs, a temporary ice rink at the Black Swan Hotel, fancy dress, rides, including a Christmas Pudding "rodeo" and swing boats, games and food tastings.

The event also marks the start of the town’s first Angel Festival, which will see Helmsley taken over by hordes of angels until Twelfth Night.

To launch the event there will be a special #helmsangels competition, where people are invited to dress up or decorate their bike, mobility scooter, wheelchair or pet in an angel theme to win prizes. A town-wide search for a missing angel – Rory – also encourages visitors to snap a selfie with the cheeky chap, and send it to the town via social media (@VisitHelmsley) for the chance to win.

Carolyn Frank, chairman of Helmsley in Business and owner of Libby Butler Jewellers, said: “This is the fourth Small Business Saturday, and every year our celebrations of it get bigger and better.

"As a town full of independent businesses, we love the concept behind the day, and encouraging people to support what’s based on their doorstep."

In Pickering, the town's Christmas lights will be switched on at 5pm on Saturday. There will also be a tree blessing and carol singing, plus a free raffle draw with various prizes from local businesses.

The Market Place will be closed to traffic from 3.30pm to 5.30pm with music from the Stape Silver band and Pickering Infants School choir, along with Minster Strays Morris dancers.

Phil Hall, landlord of the Black Swan and a member of Pickering in Business group, who have organised the event, said: "We are determined that the weather will not detract from the event and to ensure this have organised an indoor market at the memorial hall from 9am until 4pm.

"Stalls will include Television House, the Toy and Book Warehouse, PC Photographic, Big Bear Bikes, Pickering Gallery, Islay Rose Cakes, plus various gift stalls."