Christmas is set to arrive early in communities across north Norfolk.

Details are emerging of festive fun days across the area.

The Christmas lights will be switched on in Sheringham, by the clock, on Friday, November 18, at 6.30pm.

The festivities get underway with a Lights, Bikes and Lanterns parade at Tesco at 5pm.

It has been organised in tribute to the memory of local fundraiser Graham Curlew (Jumbo) whose wish it was to stage a fairy light parade for children at Christmas time.

The Chamber of Trade is hosting a best dressed window competition, there will be a performance from the primary school choir and a snow machine, as well as a visit from Santa himself, before the Salvation Army band bring the night to a close.

Carol singing with the Salvation Army band will bring the community together for the Christmas lights switch-on in North Walsham on Saturday, November 26, at 6pm.

A former British Ambassador to Colombia, Sir Thomas and Lady Jeanette Duggin, accompanied by the town's mayor and town crier, will do the honours.

Entertainment will be staged in the town centre throughout the afternoon, starting at 2.30pm, and include performances from The Manor Road School, Invidia Choir, Helen Bloomfield and girl group Into The Crowd, as well as the normal fair rides, and food and charity stalls.

And the guests of honour will judge the town's best dressed window competition.

A pantomime horse race is among the highlights of the Christmas light switch-on in Holt on Wednesday, November 30, at 6pm.

Fireworks are expected at the festive fun day in the High Street and Market Place from 4.30pm, with the Christmas parade following at 5.30pm.

And, in Cromer, real reindeer are expected to join Santa at the switch-on outside the town's Parish Church on Saturday, December 3, at 5.30pm.

Earlier this month it was announced parking charges are to be scrapped in council-run car parks across north Norfolk over the festive period in a drive to encourage more motorists to shop local this Christmas.

Councillor Tom FitzPatrick, Leader of North Norfolk District Council, said: 'Encouraging more people into the high street is vital and these free Christmas car parking weekends are designed to do just that and make shopping less stressful by shopping locally.

'By providing the free car parking sessions my hope is that we help to attract more shoppers into our town centres and support our local economy by using our excellent local shops.'

The dates were agreed following consultation with the town councils as follows: Cromer - Saturdays, December 3 and 10. Sheringham – Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18. North Walsham - Saturday, November 26, and Saturday, December 24. Holt – Sundays, December 11 and 18. Stalham – Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11. Wells – Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4. And Fakenham - Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4.

Are you organising a Christmas lights switch-on which we haven't mentioned? Send us all the details by emailing: nnn.news@archant.co.uk