MIDDLETON in Teesdale's carnival queen will switch on the village's Christmas lights on Saturday.
Katie Murtagh will do the honours beside the Bainbridge Fountain, at 4pm.
During the afternoon there will be a Farmers' Market, starting at 2pm, and shoppers will be entertained by festive music and a choir from Middleton Junior, Infant and Nursery School singing a selection of traditional carols.
In order to keep out the cold, members of the youth group run by the Upper Teesdale Agriculture Support Service will provide mulled wine and mince pies, baked and donated by local residents.
After the lights have been switched on, Father Christmas will arrive on his quad bike to hand out gifts from a grotto in the Methodist Chapel Hall.
Middleton's Christmas Lights are funded entirely by the community and stretch the length of the village.
A small group of volunteers put up 1,500 metres of cabling containing 1,700 coloured bulbs and the lights burn from 4.00pm to midnight each day throughout December and the New Year holiday.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article