There’s a chill in the air, the nights are getting darker and we’re marching towards December, which means it’s nearly time for the 2019 Christmas lights switch-on.

Organised by Douglas Council, the event traditionally signals the ’official’ start of Christmas for shoppers and retail staff and kicks off late night shopping tonight Thursday.

In a change from previous years, the setting for the ceremony will be North Quay. The staged area will be located by the Little Fish Café and Santa’s grotto will be adjacent to St Matthew’s Church in Lower Ridgeway Street.

Douglas Town Band will open the proceedings at 6.15pm with Christmas music, and will be followed by entertainment from the cast of the Gaiety Theatre’s pantomime Peter Pan at 6.30pm.

At 6.45pm, there will be a performance by the Platform Theatre School vocal ensemble, who will be performing a medley of Christmas songs as well as their own version of The 12 Days of MANXMASS.

Mayor of Douglas Jon Joughin will then join the proceedings accompanied by deacon Graham Priest who will offer prayers.

Then, at 7pm, the Mayor will switch on the Christmas lights and snow will fall.

Regeneration and community committee chairman Stephen Pitts said: ’The location may have moved to the North Quay, but thanks to this welcome partnership with Manx Telecom, hard work of our officers and staff and cooperation from many others involved the Christmas lights switch-on ceremony will, once again, provide a magical evening of family entertainment.’

There will be a series of road closures to accommodate the event. Ridgeway Street between Lord Street and North Quay, as well as North Quay itself, will be closed from 5.45pm until 8pm.

And Heywood Place from Lord Street to North Quay will be closed from 3pm until 8pm.

Parking will also be suspended from Ridgeway Street between Lord Street and North Quay from 2pm to 8pm.