The festive season got underway in Ryedale at the weekend.

Norton’s Christmas lights switch-on was held on Sunday with Santa arriving in his sleigh to help turn the lights on.

Pickering’s Christmas lights switch-on takes place on Saturday, November 26, from 3pm until 6pm.

The event will be compered by Magic Mike and include entertainment from the Tuneless Choir, St Joseph’s School Choir and Stape Silver Band, along with stalls, food, games and free fairground rides.

Helmsley’s lights switch-on will take place on Friday, December 2 at 5.30pm.

The town crier will switch on the lights and there will be entertainment followed by the Christmas Tree Festival Lights switch-on which takes place from 6.20pm in Helmsley Parish Church.

Thornton-le-Dale’s Christmas lights switch-on takes place on Saturday, December 3 with activities starting at 4.30pm.

There will be a barbecue, mince pies, hog roast, mulled wine, tombola and Santa, along with music featuring the E.A.S.Y Band.

Malton’s Christmas Festival is back once again and runs across two days on the first weekend of December.

Ryedale Folk Museum is once more hosting its very special ‘Christmas Through Time’ will take place during the weekend of December 3 and 4, with a focus on the changing traditions and festivities.

Meanwhile, Malton, Norton & District Lions Santa’s sleigh is back in business in December delivering magic in Malton, Norton and nearby villages in the run up to Christmas.

Santa will be out and about again helping the Lions raise thousands of pounds to support vulnerable families and people in need.

Lion President, Pauline Lowry, said: “Santa will be taking his sleigh to see children right across Ryedale for 17 nights in December.

“We are asking children and families who want to see him to wave from their doorsteps and windows as Santa is still a bit worried about Covid and needs to make sure he is well enough to pop down chimneys on Christmas Eve. The elves are also keen to make sure everyone stays safe and well, so won’t be door knocking again this year.”

Anyone who would like to help the Lions support a whole range of good causes can make a donation by going to http://easydonate.org/VPNA08 And for the first time ever Santa is going to bring along his card reader on the sleigh so donations can be made by card!

Pauline added: “We know how much youngsters and their families look forward to Father Christmas calling. This year is going to be a tough one for many people due to the cost of living crisis so we hope we can bring some Christmas magic to Ryedale in the run up to the festive season.

“Santa is always keen to help us raise money to help local people and we are grateful to everyone – including our amazing sponsors who make sure the reindeer are fed and watered each night - for their generous support.

“We were thrilled by the amount we raised in 2021 and we hope Santa and and his merry bunch of elves will help us raise even more this year.”

SLEIGH ROUTES and DATES

Thurs 1st Dec

Wentworth St, Broughton Rise, Horsemarket Rd, The Mount, Middlecave to Castle Howard Rd

Friday 2nd Dec

Broughton, Broughton Manor, Showground Road, Copperfield Close & Ryngwoode Drive

Sat 3rd Dec Hovingham, Fryton, Slingsby, Barton & Appleton

Sun 4th Dec

West Knapton, West Heslerton, Sherburn, Wintringham

Mon 5th Dec

Old Malton, Kirby Misperton, Barugh, Brawby & Butterwick

Tues 6th Dec

St Peter’s St/Cres, Langton Road from church, Sutton St., St Nicholas. St., Springfield Garth, Welham Road, Station Way

Wed 7th Dec

Sheriff Hutton, Terrington, Coneysthorpe

Thurs 8th Dec

Thixendale, Leavening, Burythorpe, Langton & Birdsall

Fri 9th Dec

Langton Rd from church, The Ridings, Millside, Stables Est., Sutton Grange Estl., Langley Drive through to Beverley Rd Est.

Sat 10th Dec

Scampston, Rillington, Thorpe Bassett, Scagglethorpe, Settrington

Sun 11th Dec

Lilling, Flaxton, Thornton le Clay, Foston, Whitwell, Crambe, Westow & Eddlethorpe

Mon 12th Dec

Deansfield Ct Furlongs Ave, Beverley Rd, Dean Rd, Howe Rd, Eastfield Rd, Mill St., Commercial St. to Parliament St

Tues 13th Dec

Bulmer, Welburn, Crambeck, Huttons Ambo & Milton Ridge

Wed 14th Dec

East Mount, Highfield Road, White Horse Close, Peasey Hill

Thurs 15th Dec

Scarborough Rd, Bowling Lane, Arbour Way, Beckside, Maudon Grove

Redrow, Westfield

Fri 16th Dec

Swinton (part), Amotherby (part), Habton, B1257 in Amotherby/Swinton

Sat 17th Dec

Weaverthorpe - Wolds Villages to North Grimston