Peel is set to sparkle while bringing families and friends together at its ever-popular Christmas market.

The town will be filled with inviting festive smells, sights and music at this year’s event, which will see Market Square next to St Peter’s Church transformed into a merry scene of glittering entertainment and stalls.

From 2pm on November 30, a selection of market stalls will open to the public who can expect mouth-watering goodies, Christmas gifts and homemade crafts.

The 22 stalls will include: gingerbread houses by Angela Malone; refreshments from Western Athletics; Dinky Donuts; jewellery from Clara Nathan; British Legion; Manx honey lip balm by Mike Horne; Catherine Creations; Pretty Bows by Pebbles; Crafts by Ashley; The Black Dog Oven pizza; Avon; Roberts Emporium; Temple Spa and more.

Following the success of previous years, stalls were quickly sold out this year due to high demand.

Alan Jones, chairman of Peel Commissioners, said: ’Peel has a wide range of independent shop and with the addition of the Christmas market everyone should be able to find that unique gift locally this year.’

While people are busily searching for gifts and delicious treats, the big man himself - Father Christmas - will appear all the way from the North Pole to personally give children tangerines and sweets.

As ever, good food and shopping is well-matched with great music - and Peel Commissioners and Event Management Solutions have stepped up to deliver this once again by inviting a variety of talented musicians to the square.

Market-goers will hear traditional carols and modern Christmas classics amongst other songs performed by community choir Women in Song (Mraane ayns Arrane), The Rock Vannin Choir and Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums.

Manx dancing is bound to get crowds warmed up as they bob along with warm drinks to the rhythms of dancers’ feet.

Crosby Silver Band will then gather the crowd in to sing family carols together from 4.40pm ahead of the main event: the lights switch on at 5pm.

While the historic features of the surrounding buildings are lit up by decorative lights, a display of fireworks will wow the audience from above.

The display will be carried out by Galaxy Fireworks, a company praised for its impressive shows at public bonfire nights across the island.

Peter Young, founder of Event Management Solutions, which is renowned for organising outstanding island events, said: ’This is a really good community-focussed event in Peel which has grown year on year.

’The Market Square has been subject to a regeneration and is a great place to have a full afternoon and evening of entertainment and fun.

’St Peter’s Church also provides a great background for the bands with the fireworks highlighting the ruins.’

Peel is no stranger to hosting stand-out events with its well-established Peel Day, which falls on Mad Sunday during the TT in June, New Year’s Dip in January, the colourful Peel Carnival, which will reach its 68th anniversary in 2020, plus the exciting Oie Voaldyn fire festival in May.

To find out more about these events, search: www.peelonline.net/whats-on/