Christmas lights will begin to turn on across the South West over the coming days and weeks as the festive period begins.

The biggest display will take place in Plymouth on Thursday, with the city center lights due to be switched on at 18:30 GMT.

Entertainers, Santa and the Mayor will be in the Piazza from 4:30 p.m. for the event and the nightly shopping will begin and take place every Thursday until the end of the Christmas season.

Exeter’s lights will be switched on on Friday to coincide with the opening of the Cathedral Christmas Market, which is expected to host more than 100 stalls from independent traders.

Events will take place across the region:

• Plymouth (city center) – Thursday, November 14
• Exeter – Friday November 15
• Plymouth (Barbican) – Saturday November 16
• Truro – Friday November 22
• Newton Abbot – Saturday November 23
• Barnstaple – Thursday 28 November
• Bay of Lights (Torquay, Paignton and Brixham) – Friday November 29
• Bodmin – Friday November 29
• St Austell – Saturday November 30
• Penzance – Saturday November 30
• Angarrack – Sunday December 1st
• Mousehole – Thursday December 12

Cornwall’s largest Christmas market kicks off in Truro at Lemon Quay on Friday 22 November at 7pm and continues until Christmas Eve with food, drink and gift stalls.

The Mousehole Harbor Lights show, which began in 1963, will return on Thursday, December 12 – depicting Santa’s light shows, Christmas puddings and a juggling octopus.