CHRISTMAS comes to Chester in style this year, with real reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh into the heart of the city prior to the official lights switch-on and fireworks display.
The Chronicle is celebrating the launch of the festive season by offering readers the chance to win £5,000 worth of High Street Vouchers.
The Town Hall Square will be brought to life on Thursday when local acts strut their stuff before hundreds of revellers in a two-hour show presented by The Forum manager Lawrence Allen.
The Chronicle will be handing out goody bags and tokens to use to take part in our fabulous competition, which will bring even greater Christmas cheer to some of our readers.
The search is on for a deserving youngster - aged 6-11 - who will sit alongside Santa throughout his parade, help him settle in his grotto in The Forum and assist Lord Mayor Terry Ralph in switching on the lights.
Mr Allen said: 'We want youngsters to apply for the post of Santa's helper by explaining in no more than 25 words why they deserve this great honour.'
Entry forms are available at The Forum. The winner will take away a host of goodies and can enjoy a family meal at The Forum's McDonald's.
Thursday's event marks the start of a unique Christmas shopping campaign which sees Chester City Centre Management and Chester City Council teaming up with businesses in the city.
The Shop Around The Clock campaign will offer bargains and boost the local economy while creating a festive buzz in the city.
The campaign urges people to do their Christmas shopping, eating out and socialising in Chester, and offers late-night shopping on Thursdays, with many extra late nights being added from the start of December, peaking in Christmas week.
Chester residents and visitors who have signed up to the Charisma Card loyalty scheme will be able to gain up to 20% discounts in some outlets.
The city council is providing free Park & Ride from 5-8pm.
The lord mayor will hit the big switch at 6.30pm at the end of the switch-on celebrations in Town Hall Square.
Cllr Ralph said: 'We have a fantastic line-up of truly local talent which reflect the music over a wide spectrum, with live performances and entertainment for the whole family.'
This includes members of Castaway Youth Theatre performing songs from West Side Story, the group Mustangs, actors from the Gateway Christmas show 101 Dalmatians and the Chester Comets and Jets.
There will even be Chester's own X Factor featuring five young hopefuls. They are being featured on Dee 106.3 in the run-up to the event and you can vote for your favourite on the night.
The opening of Santa's grotto and carols performed by Kelsborrow Choir will follow the switch-on event, which gets under way at 4.15pm.
TO CELEBRATE the switching on of Chester's Christmas lights, The Chronicle has £5,000 worth of High Street Vouchers to give away.
There are two prizes of £1,000, four of £500 and ten of £100.
To be in with a chance of winning, simply cut out Token 1 in today's paper - next week we will publish Token 2, a question and an entry form.
High Street Vouchers can be used at 70 locations for a variety of products. Examples include Boots, Ernest Jones, British Airways, La Senza and Alton Towers.
Get your Christmas off to a bright start... don't miss out - buy next week's Chronicle.
