The Warlingham Christmas Lights Ceremony is taking place at 5pm on Saturday 24th November with NatWest bank sponsoring the traditional children's lantern parade and carol singing.

As well as the lantern parade, which begins at 4.45pm at the Scout Hall in Mint Walk, this year's ceremony will see new features, including a new corner tree being lit with hundreds of lights.

The festivities surrounding the switching-on ceremony on Warlingham Green will begin with the children's rides and halls opening at 3.30pm, building up to lantern parade led, as always, by the Warlingham Flute Band. After the Christmas Lights are switched on at 5pm, there will be carols from a combined children's choir.

There will also be plenty of things to do for all the family before and after the ceremony. These include musical puppets and a Christmas market in the Village Hall and stalls in the Church Hall from 4pm, and from 5.15pm Santa will be in his grotto in the Church Hall. Throughout the event there will be children's rides and lots to eat and drink, including hot dogs, barbecue, a hog roast and mulled wine.

Many of the businesses around The Green will remain open late or be staging special events. Martin and Laurent at Chez Vous restaurant will be serving hot soup, hot chocolate, tea and coffee and mulled wine. Volunteers will also be raising money with collections, raffles and the sale of badges.

The organisers still need as many volunteers as they can get to be stewards, collectors and general helpers on the night. So if you would like to get involved, call Wendy on 01883 623025.