STARS from the ‘80s are among those looking forward to welcoming Christmas in the district as annual lights switch-on events start to take place.

A meet and greet event with 1980s and 1990s pop sensation Sonia is part of Keighley’s festive celebrations on Sunday, November 25.

Sonia will be singing some of her biggest hits before switching the lights on in Church Green at 4.30pm. The day will see a host of activities including appearances by Skye and Rubble from children’s TV series, PAW Patrol.

Also on the 25th, Skipton’s festive lights switch on will take place in Skipton High Street with entertainment from Britain’s Got Talent finalists Boogie Storm Official. The festivities take place between 10am and 6pm.

Earlier in the day the Skipton Craven Rotary Club hosts its annual Santa Fun Run which this year includes two entrants, Skipton Chamber of Trade and Commerce’s Wendy Lawson and her fiance, Alex Griffin, who get married half way through the race wearing their Santa outfits, and followed up with a blessing at Holy Trinity Church.

Baildon at Christmas returns as the lights switch-on takes place on Sunday, December 2, between 11am and 4pm.

Here there will be street entertainment, a Father Christmas grotto, a Christmas robin trail, stalls to browse and shop, the Wreath Festival, refreshments and the newly included Christmas Tree Festival.

The day will be capped off with the official Baildon Christmas Lights switch-on.

Saltaire is holding its Christmas lights switch-on and market also on December 2, with entertainment taking place between 4.30pm and 7pm at the Victoria Hall.

Entertainment includes musical acts of Gordon Tetley Big Band, the Wurlitzer, the Bradford Grammar School Choir, Gospel Kids, and many more.

There will be refreshments and mulled cider as well as stalls and carol singing before the lights are switched on at 6.15pm.

Pudsey is gearing itself up to its Christmas lights event, also on Sunday December 2, with live music from the top of Lowtown, followed by craft stalls and a funfair in Manor House Street. There will be a food market in the marketplace followed by a Santa’s Grotto in Pudsey House and the Rotary Club’s craft fair in the Leisure Centre.

The entertainment takes place between 3pm and 7pm.

Bingley is gearing up for a packed lights switch-on event as the Bingley Chamber of Trade Christmas Fayre and switch-on takes place on Saturday, November 24.

The event starts at with Santa in his Grotto from 10am and he will give away over 700 free presents over the course of the day.

There will be free children’s rides including the ever popular land train and Rocking Rudolf complemented with a full indoor market inside the Bingley Arts Centre.

There will also be a full outdoor Christmas market packed with stalls in the town square.

This year the Chamber says it is delighted to have ex Bradford City Captain Gary Jones together with Pulse 1 Radio Presenters Jacqui Blay and Paul Griffiths doing the honours on the plunger to light up the town at 4.30pm.

There will also be the official unveiling of the new Bingley Town Council Christmas illumination which was designed by Jasmine Stross from Eldwick Primary School .

Once again the event is being fully supported by Bingley town Council.

Jamie Illingworth, president of Bingley Chamber of Trade said: “We have been inundated with enquires for the market and it has completely sold out so everything is set for a fantastic day.”