BRADFORD city centre’s ‘top of town’ will hold its first Christmas Party this weekend, as towns and villages across the district start the festive fun with a host of events.

In Oastler Square on Saturday, November 25, there will be a festive arts, crafts and local produce market hosted by Made Bradford, bringing together local artisan traders and artists selling handmade goods and foods.

Bradford-based arts group The Brick Box will also be putting on street entertainment in the square, including appearances by Santa’s elves.

The Oastler Shopping Centre will be hosting the second Bradford Print Fair in and around the new Market Event Space between 11am and 5pm. It will showcase and sell prints, designs and illustrations from over 30 artists based in the north of England.

The Sparrow Cafe will be bringing a pop-up bar to the market, serving European beers, wines and spirits, with a speciality mulled cider between 10am and 5pm.

Local vegan chef Sonia Sandhu will bring a Vegan Pop-Up Stall serving a range of festive Indian street food in a stall next to the Sparrow’s pop-up bar between 11.30am and 5pm.

Rosie Freeman, director at The Brick Box, said: “Oastler Market is such a fantastic resource in the city for food, drink and shopping, so we’re really happy to be celebrating the market this Christmas with the Top of Town Christmas Party.”

Santa is coming to town in Shipley on Saturday, when he leads a parade around the Market Square in his giant sleigh, from noon. A pop-up pantomime with Glitzen the silver reindeer runs from 2pm to 4pm, followed by the lights switch-on at 5pm.

In Addingham Father Christmas and the gala queen will be switching the village’s Christmas lights on at 4.30pm on Saturday, in the car park of the Swan, Main Street, with food and drink, as well as Christmas gifts from local stallholders.

There will be carol-singing in The Grove, Ilkley, on Saturday, with entertainment from 2pm. A procession starts from Whitton Croft Road at 4.30pm, with Father Christmas switching the lights on at 5pm.

Baildon is also holding its Christmas lights event on Saturday, between 5pm and 7pm, in the upper car park at Ian Clough Hall, with the switch-on at 6pm. There will be music from the Hall Royd Band, carol-singing, crafts and stalls selling hot refreshments.

Seasonal food and drink will also be on offer at a Christmas market in Bingley, on Saturday from 10am, along with attractions for children. TV presenter Harry Gration will switch on the lights at 4.30pm, in the Market Square.

The popular Victorian Christmas market returns to Brighouse on Saturday and Sunday, November 26, with street entertainers, choirs, brass bands and parades, as well as Santa’s grotto, a funfair, lantern parade and lights switch-on. The event runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

A joyous mule-tide is promised in Silsden, after a members of St James’s Church had their prayers answered in the form of a donkey for their Roving Nativity. Church members had issued a last-minute Twitter appeal to find a live donkey for the event on Sunday. The event takes place alongside a Christmas market, inside Silsden Town Hall and in nearby Briggate, from 10am. The Christmas lights switch-on is at the bandstand at 4pm.

Pulse 1 presenters Mylo and Rosie will be leading the build-up to the lights switch-on at the Airedale Shopping Centre, Keighley, on Sunday at 4.30pm.

There will be a Christmas craft and gift fair at the Kings Hall and Winter Gardens in Ilkley on Sunday, from 10am to 4pm, in aid of the Otley Town Mayor’s 14+1 Charity appeal. Attractions will include stalls, live Christmas music, refreshments and children’s entertainment. In the evening there will be a tribute show, Christmas With The Stars, from 7pm.

Emmerdale actors James Hooton (Sam Dingle) and Karen Blick (Lydia Hart) will be in Guiseley to switch on the lights on Sunday. There will be a Christmas market from 2pm, with a funfair and live acts on stage. The lights will be switched on at 6pm, followed by a firework display.