SANTA CLAUS will be coming to town this weekend as the Christmas lights are switched on in Malton and Norton.

The festive fun gets under way on Friday with a seasonal evening at the Derwent Arms, in Norton.

Choirs from Norton Primary School and Norton College will be performing, along with the White Star Band, from 4.30pm, followed by the arrival of Father Christmas at 6pm for the switch-on.

There will also be fairground rides and hot food available from Next Steps.

The winner of the Christmas hamper competition will also be announced and entries can still be made by shopping at participating shops in Norton until Friday.

Norton mayor, Councillor Ray King said: “Thanks go to all the traders who have been involved in this year’s competition.

“We look forward to seeing everyone at the switch-on and the start to the festive season in Norton.”

In Malton, the Christmas lights switch-on will take place on Sunday.

The fun starts at 1pm with the town’s first-ever Santa Fun Run in aid of Ryedale Special Families.

Entries are still open for the three races which include Santa’s Elves for children aged four to eight, which will cover one lap of the Market Place; Santa’s Little Helpers for those aged nine to 14, which will tackle two laps of the Market Place, and the main event for adults who will go slightly further afield around a one-and-a-half mile circuit.

Entry is £12 for adults and £6 for children and includes your own five-piece Father Christmas costume, as well as a medal and certificate which will be presented to everyone who completes the course.

Support is being provided by Yorkshire Building Society, Malton and Norton Rotary Club, Spectrum Solicitors and Community Traffic Management.

Rob Davies, who is organising the Santa Run, said: “We’re hoping to fill the Market Place with Santas of all ages, shapes and sizes to take part in one of the three fun runs.

“Anyone can join us and you can walk, jog or jingle all the way around the course.”

Throughout the afternoon there will also be a Christmas craft fair in the Milton Rooms, in Malton, with stalls and refreshments.

Entertainment will be provided by the White Star Band, Harmonia Ladies’ Choir, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary, Malton School Jazz Band and singers from Kirkham Henry.

Father Christmas and his reindeer will arrive at 4.30pm for the switch- on by actress Lauren Hood, who grew up in Norton, and Rob McVeigh, who are both appearing in Snow White at the Grand Opera House, in York.

A spokesman for the We Love Malton team said: “It promises to be a fun afternoon with plenty of festive entertainment galore. We hope everyone will come along and join us and get into the Christmas spirit.”

Entry forms for the Santa Run can be found at www.ryedalespecialfamilies.org.uk or by calling in at Yorkshire Building Society’s branch in Wheelgate, Malton.