THE town is set to be ablaze with colour and cheer as residents, visitors and businesses alike get into the festive spirit for Tavistock’s annual Dickensian Evening next week.

As the main highlight event in the run up to Christmas, this year will see the Dickensian theme taken to a new level with a special street performance of the popular Christmas tale A Christmas Carol.

The usual abundance of food, drink and festive goodies will be on offer throughout the town centre as well as Morris dancing, reindeer-stroking and carol singing. Pupils from Tavistock Community Primary School will be entertaining crowds with their melodies as well as festive carols and tunes from Stannary Brass Band and ukelele players.

Spearheaded by Tavistock BID, this year it has been organised with a new chairman and manager at the helm.

BID manager Janna Sanders said she was excited to be involved in this year’s event: ‘I Love Dickensian Evening and I am really excited to have had a hand in organising it this year.

‘It is a magical evening for the town and I am proud to be able to support our local businesses in this way.

‘This year you can expect the official light switch-on as usual at 5.45pm by the town mayor Paul Ward and local schoolchildren who have been nominated by their fellow pupils.

‘The mayor of West Devon, a representative of St Eustachius’ Church and Father Christmas will all be on stage for the ceremony.

‘To complement the town’s shops and eateries, we can also expect a host of other wonderful stalls selling mince pies, cider, Christmas puddings, delicious waffles, barbecue food and beer.

‘This year we will also be welcoming our outstanding sensory and community gardeners.

‘As requested by the town’s businesses, Tavistock BID is making more of the Dickensian weekend to bring Untamed Theatre’s street performance of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to Tavistock.

‘Follow Ebenezer Scrooge through our winding streets to uncover his Christmas past, present and future. Booking is required for the walking performances — learn more at www.visit-tavistock.co.uk

‘It is a joy to see so many people and businesses working together to produce such a spectacular evening and I would like to thank everyone for supporting the event so whole-heartedly.

‘A lot of work goes into the planning of Dickensian Evening and I have received tremendous support from Tavistock Town Council and the BID board in this, my first year of doing so. We hope it will be a fantastic evening.’

Chair of Tavistock BID Kevin Hailey said: ‘I have been so excited and looking forward to Dickensian this year for many reasons but mainly because it is such a magical event for Tavistock and it brings so many locals and people into our thriving town and seeing those smiling faces of people walking around is a joy.

‘This year I have had the further excitement and pleasure of being part of the creation of Dickensian due to being the new chairman of Tavistock BID which creates and hosts this superb event and I must say a huge thank you to Janna for all her wonderful support in making this happen this year as she has done an exceptional job.

‘Dickensian is a celebration of our town’s history and one that I hope will continue forever and we as the Tavistock BID will do our best in making sure every year is a joyous event.’

Dickensian Evening will take place on December 7. See the supplement in today’s Times giving a schedule of all the evening’s events.