The delight of opening Advent calendar windows and discovering the treats behind will be shared with a village for the eighth year running.

More people than ever before volunteered to be part of the Saltaire Living Advent Calendar this year, and each night in December one of 24 houses in the World Heritage Site will illuminate a specially decorated window until Christmas Eve.

As an added bonus for 2013, eight community buildings and shops will also have decorated windows from December 1 and children are challenged to spot characters as they follow the trail.

About 50 people wanted their homes featured on the festive trail this year and as the event grows more popular, it is inspiring other places across the country.

Co-ordinator David Starley said: “We had more applications than ever before, so it seems to be taking off here and there’s loads of other ones starting off around the country. You look on their websites and they say things like, ‘We could do something like they have in Saltaire’.”

Organisers Saltaire Inspired have given priority to newcomers, but there will also be some regulars including Saltaire Primary School and the United Reformed Church.

The event also has a large online audience, with people from as far away as Abu Dhabi and America following it on Facebook.

The content of the windows remains a strict secret until illuminated, but a wide variety of themes is expected, from the traditional and wintry to tongue-in-cheek displays – such as last year’s message from Delia to defrost your turkey on the 22nd.

Mr Starley said: “I love this event as it brings the community together and provides a refreshing antidote to the commercial hype at Christmas time.

“Even as co-ordinator I have no idea what the participants are planning. Whether beautiful or topical to humorous, we always get great contributions.”

On Christmas Eve, villagers are invited to meet at Saltaire Bookshop, before carol singing around the trail of illuminated windows.

Information about the Living Advent Calendar, including a map of the trail, can be found at facebook.com/ saltaireadventcalendar.

The village’s Christmas light switch-on event is on Sunday, December 1, at Victoria Hall, with carols around the tree from 4pm and the lights turned on at 5pm. Hall Royd Brass Band will also perform.