HEREFORDSHIRE towns are set for their Christmas lights switch on events to kick off the festive season.

Christmas Day might still be five weeks away, but some town's have already turned on their lights, while others are due to go ahead this weekend. 

Each event has its own special element ready for its local people, some will even have special guests.

Leominster

Leominster's Christmas lights switch on will take place on November 26.

There will be entertainment, fair rides and food and drink available from around 3pm in Corn Square.

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The annual Nativity service will take place in the Priory Church at 4pm, followed by the light switch-on back in Corn Square. 

Ross-on-Wye 

Ross-on-Wye Town Council will be holding the event on November 27, when the town centre, Broad Street and Croft Court, will come alive with over 70 stalls selling locally handmade arts and crafts plus delicious artisan food and drink.

From decorations, candles, bath bombs, ceramics, and jewellery, to cheese, chutneys, hampers, brownies, and blankets, there will be lots to choose from.

Two bars will be set up and the Beefy Boys will also be serving their famous burgers, alongside other food stalls.

Special guest Richard Hammond will be turning on the Christmas Lights at 4.30pm, which include the town's new hedgehog lights.

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Ledbury 

Events to mark Ledbury's town Christmas lights switch-on will take place on Sunday, November 27, outside the Market House in the town centre.

Currently 26 traders have signed up to participate in the event, which will be food vendors, craft stalls, and local distilleries.

There will also be a range of other entertainment taking place, which Ledbury Town Council have decided will be Walkabout performers.

But to accommodate larger than usual market traders, alongside the entertainment, the members of the council’s events party asked the town council to grant a road closure from Top Cross to Bye Street between 10am and 6pm.

Read more here: Details for Christmas lights switch-on and fair in Herefordshire town

Hay-on-Wye

A celebrity will make a special appearance at a Herefordshire border town's Christmas lights switch-on event this year.

Writer of the famous book turned film adaption, War Horse, Michael Morpurgo, will join Hay-on-Wye Citizens of the Year Trish and Alan Kiddle to switch on the town's Christmas lights on Friday, November 25.

Sir Michael Morpurgo is an English book author, poet, playwright, and librettist who is known best for children's novels such as War Horse.

The free switch-on event will take place between 5pm and 7pm in Memorial Square, accompanied by carol singing, stalls, food, mulled wine, and entertainment to kick off the festival weekend, which runs to Sunday, November 27.

Read more here: Celebrity change for Hay-on-Wye Christmas lights switch on