The countdown to Christmas has really started with Belfast’s Lord Mayor announcing details of this year’s festive programme .

Jim Rodgers said thousands of people are expected to pack into Belfast city centre next week (20 November), to herald the official launch of Belfast’s Christmas season.

The mayor will then be joined by chart-topping singer Shayne Ward and Bangor-born model turned TV presenter Zöe Salmon to light up the tree and switch on the city’s Christmas lights.

“Every year, about 15,000 people pack into the area in front of City Hall for the switching on of the Christmas lights: it’s a great night for all the family, and we always have a packed programme of entertainment,” said the Lord Mayor.

“Over the years, we have attracted many top stars to perform at Belfast’s switch on, and 2007 most definitely is no exception. I am delighted that the undoubted highlight of this year’s event will be a personal appearance by Shayne Ward, who will perform a selection of his hits.

“And we’re equally delighted that our special guest compère for the evening will be Zöe Salmon, a former Miss Northern Ireland and now a firm favourite with our younger citizens, as presenter of ‘Blue Peter’,” added the Lord Mayor.

Speaking from London, Zöe Salmon said: "I love Christmas and I love Belfast - so the two of them together is a perfect match as far as I am concerned. I have done many strange and wonderful things on 'Blue Peter', but next Tuesday is going to be one of the most exciting... I just can't wait!"

Shayne Ward also expressed his joy at being invited to take part in the annual ceremony.

“The switching on of Belfast’s Christmas lights is one of the best nights of the year, and it is a real honour for me to be taking part. It should be a truly fantastic evening and I look forward to everyone in Belfast coming down and enjoying the party.”

Other highlights of Belfast City Council’s Christmas programme include the hugely popular Continental Christmas Market, in the grounds of City Hall, from Wednesday 21 November and continuing right through until Tuesday 18 December, with food and craft stalls from all over Europe, and beyond; the 60-metre ‘Belfast Wheel’, which will continue to operate daily, except Christmas Day, in Donegall Square East and the Waterfront Hall’s pantomime this year is ‘Sleeping Beauty’, which runs from 1 December – 12 January.

There will also be Christmas tours of Belfast Castle throughout the month of December; a Magical Christmas’ at Northern Ireland’s triple award-winning tourist attraction, Belfast Zoo, over the weekends of 1 – 2, 8 -9 and 15 – 16 December; the lamplight procession from St. Anne’s Cathedral to the City Hall, led by the Lord Mayor and Dean Houston McKelvey, on the evening of Tuesday 4 December and the Christmas Fair and Market at St. George’s Market, on 8 and 9 December.

Also looking ahead, there also will be a fantastic New Year’s Eve party in Custom House Square, details of which will be announced at the beginning of December.

(BMcC)