THE streets of Tavistock will be filled with festive fun tomorrow (Friday), when the town celebrates the start of the Christmas period with the traditional Dickensian Evening.
Organised by the chamber of commerce, the event attracts visitors from far and wide who come to enjoy late night shopping, colourful Christmas lights, hot chestnuts and lots of street entertainment.
Many of the town?s shop keepers and market stall holders enter the spirit of the evening, dressing up Victorian-style, offering tempting winter warmers such as mince-pies and hot mulled wine.
The evening starts at 6pm with an opening walk through the town, led by the mayors of Tavistock and West Devon and Tavistock?s town crier, Bob Rose.
Bedford Square will be the venue for musical entertainment. At 7pm, there will be music in Bedford Square from Tavistock Churches Music Group, followed by folk, pop and rock music at 7.45pm, courtesy of One Point Five.
The carol service, led by Preb John Rawlings and accompanied by St Eustachius Choir and the Stannary Brass Band, will be held at 8.45pm and One Point Five make a return at 9pm.
Roving entertainment will be provided by a side of Morris Men, a fire-eater, the Patchwork Singers, Mayflower Chorus, Stannary Brass Band and a variety of buskers.
The Hoppa Bus will be running between Safeway?s car park and The Bedford Hotel between 6pm and 9.30pm. Disabled parking is available at Lawson?s and ATS.
Tavistock Community Bus will be running a special service from Chillaton, Lamerton, Kelly and Milton Abbot.
The bus will leave Chillaton at 6pm, Meadwell (Kelly) at 6.42pm, Milton Abbot at 6.54pm and Lamerton School at 7.02pm.
The return service will leave Bedford Square at 8.30pm for Chillaton and 9.10pm for the other destinations.