Douglas is set to dazzle on Thursday November 26 when the Christmas lights are switched on and the festive season officially starts in the capital.

Ridgeway Street will be the setting for an evening of family entertainment compered by Manx Radio that starts at 6.15pm with a sneak preview of ‘Sleeping Beauty’, this year’s pantomime at the Gaiety Theatre, then Douglas Town Band sets the mood by playing Christmas carols before local singer Grace Lee performs some seasonal numbers at 6.40pm. At 6.50pm the Voice Over choir will bring their own unique musical style to the occasion before the Mayor of Douglas Councillor Sara Hackman, joins the proceedings accompanied by the mayor’s chaplain, the Archdeacon of Man, the Ven Andrew Brown, who will offer prayers. Then at 7.00pm the Mayor will switch on the Christmas lights, ‘snow’ will fall, Santa will be in his grotto on the corner of John Street, Thursday late-night shopping begins…and Christmas comes to the capital.

Motorists are advised that on Thursday November 26 the section of Ridgeway Street and King Street between Lord Street and Victoria Street and Prospect Hill from Ridgeway Street and Athol Street will be closed to traffic between 8.35am and midnight and parking will be suspended on the east side of Ridgeway Street between Lord Street and Athol Street from 12 noon until midnight.

This annual event is always well attended and for safety reasons the Council may have to restrict numbers.

There will be free parking in Douglas Borough Council’s Shaw’s Brow, Chester Street and Bottleneck car parks from 5 to 10pm on pre-Christmas Thursdays from November 26 and all day Saturday and Sunday until December 24.

Additionally the Department of Infrastructure has confirmed it will operate Pay and Display public car parking on Douglas promenade walkway from Thursday November 26 until the end of December. Parking will be free, however, on Thursday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays over the same period.