THE festive season gets under way in Ryedale this weekend.

The lights will be switched on in Malton on Sunday, in the Market Place, from 4pm to 6pm.

There will be performances from Ghost Carribu, who will be telling Christmas stories using puppets.

The puppets will start their first performance on the corner of Market Street and Market Place at about 4.15pm and will continue to move around the Market Place until about 5.30pm.

From 5.30pm to 5.45pm members of Kirkham Performing Arts will be performing outside the Old Town Hall, before the lights are switched on by Father Christmas at 6pm.

The town’s independent traders will also be launching their Malton’s Christmas Cracker Campaign 2018, which will run from Sunday December 2, to Sunday, December 23.

The businesses involved have all contributed prizes which will be part of a hamper for the overall winner.

Kirkbymoorside’s Christmas market will take place on Saturday, from 10am to 3pm.

There will be more than 30 craft and local produce stalls in the main street and Memorial Hall.

Kirkbymoorside Brass Band will be playing in the main street and there will be activities for children, including face painting, and Santa’s grottot, from noon to 2pm.

Norton will host the annual Santa Fun Runs, as part of the Christmas lights switch-on on Sunday, December 2.

Organised by Ryedale Special Families, the event, from 2pm, will start and finish in front of the town council offices.

This year there will be three age categories, starting at 3pm for adults; 3.30pm for ages 11 to 14; 3.45pm for eight to 10 and 4pm for four to seven.

There will also be children’s entertainments, before the lights switch-on which will take place shortly after the final fun run at 4.30pm.

Entry is £5 for children and £10 for adults, which include the provision of a full Santa costume, as well as a medal and certificate on completion.

Entry forms are available from Norton Town Council offices in Commercial Street, from the Yorkshire Building Society branch in Wheelgate, Malton, or from Ryedale Special Families by phoning 01653 699000.

Pickering’s lights switch-on event will take place on Saturday, December 1, from 2pm onwards. There will be music, Morris dancers, Father Christmas, a treasure hunt and a raffle, with the lights being switched on by the town mayor at 5.30pm.

Helmsley in Business group will be supporting Small Business Saturday, which falls on Saturday, December 1, with a day of activities launching the town’s festive season.

There will be a giant Nutcracker Trail taking place across the town, a giant inflatable snow globe, Santa’s Grotto, buskers and entertainers, food and drink tastings and arts and crafts.

For more information, go to visithelmsley.co.uk