FESTIVE celebrations continue in Ryedale this weekend with more Christmas lights switch-ons.

On Saturday, Helmsley will mark Small Business Saturday, alongside its lights switch on..

Musicians from Ryedale School will be performing in the Market Place during the morning, while Helmsley Community Library will be running activities from 10am to 4pm, including a raffle, activities for children and a sale of mystery books.

From 4pm, the town crier will be welcoming people and the Swinton Brass Band will get everyone in the mood for the Christmas season, along with mulled wine and mince pies.

Santa’s Grotto will also open at 4.30pm, before TV’s Yorkshire Vet Julian Norton switches on the lights at 5pm. At 6pm, there will be a procession up to the annual Christmas Tree Festival.

The Christmas Tree Festival, which this year has the theme of “stars” will run until December 17, at All Saints Church, which is open daily, from 10am to 4pm.

In Pickering, the town’s Market Place will be closed from noon on Saturday to host a Christmas market, which will include stalls, Morris dancers, Stape Silver Band, a raffle to win an enormous Chocolate House, town treasure hunt and a visit by Father Christmas on his sleigh. The Christmas lights will be switched on at 5.30pm.

Meanwhile, the switch-on of Thornton-le-Dale’s Christmas lights also takes place on Saturday.

The festivities begin at 4.30pm and there will be a variety of stalls and a tombola, as well as seasonal hot food, including a barbecue, hog roast, mince pies and mulled wine to keep out the winter chill.

Father Christmas will be making a grand entrance at 5pm, followed by prize-giving for the school competition, prize draw and music from the EASY Band before a reading from the Reverend Jo White and the lights switch-on at 6pm.