Christmas is kicking off this week in Douglas with ’The Greatest Christmas Show’ on Thursday, November 25.

It will see a series of festive events held between 5.30pm and 8.30pm.

The Mayor of Douglas, Raina Chatel, will wish everyone a Merry Christmas via the large outdoor cinema screens set up in the new ’cultural area’ outside the Sefton Hotel and Market Hill just prior to the lights being lit remotely at 7pm.

There will be two outdoor cinemas - one on Market Hill, and one in the amphitheratre at the cultural area.

The former cinema will screen The Snowman, whilst the latter will show The Snowman and the Snowdog.

Castle Street will be the setting for a ’snow garden’ while Villiers Square will be transformed into a winter wonderland with free children’s fairground rides.

Father Christmas will be found in Granville Street.

Meanwhile, the Henry Bloom Noble Library is adding to the Christmas line up by hosting a book-signing event with local astronomer Howard Parkin.

The signing will be held between 4pm and 6pm.

Mr Parkin will be signing copies of his book ’Space for Dark Skies - an astronomical miscellany from the Isle of Man’, which contains spectacular images of the Manx dark night skies and is described as serving ’as both a memoir and tutorial guide’.

Borough librarian Jan Macartney said: ’All of us are thrilled, not only that Howard has kindly agreed to a book-signing session on this very special evening, but also that his work and passion for sharing his wealth of knowledge have been recognised by such an august body as the BAA.

’We’re delighted to be part of the Greatest Christmas Show, which promises to be a truly stellar event.’

Mr Parkin was recently selected joint winner of the British Astronomical Society’s (BAA) 2021 Sir Patrick Moore Prize for ’the encouragement of a popular interest in astronomy’, and ’the encouragement of participation in observational work by youngsters’ for his work giving talks on astronomy-related topics to societies, groups and schools.

He said: ’What makes the award special for me is that I met Sir Patrick Moore on a number of occasions and he was an inspiration to me.

’He also agreed to be the patron of the Isle of Man Astronomical Society and he helped us in a number of ways for which we are all eternally grateful.’

l Parking for the ’Greatest Christmas Show’ is available in Shaw’s Brow and Bottleneck car parks, which will be free from 5pm on November 25 and on every following Thursday evening until December 23.

In addition, free parking will be offered every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas, and the Department of Infrastructure is to reintroduce parking on Douglas promenade walkway.

The full line-up is available at http://www.douglas.gov.im/index.php/news/council-news/item/2741-the-greatest-christmas-show-is-coming-to-town#.YZtv1MVxfIV