CHRISTMAS lights are being turned on throughout the Scottish Borders from this week.

Tonight (Thursday 25 November 2021) in Melrose there will be music in the square between 5.30pm and 6.30pm to accompany the lights although there will be no formal switching on.

Also at the Village Centre in West Linton from 5-30pm to 8.30pm there will be a special evening market with mulled wine, festive nibbles and live Christmas music. Local shops will be open late and the lights will be switched on at the Raemartin Square at 7pm.

On Saturday in Kelso Town Square there will be dancers and music from 5pm along with hot chocolate; non-alcoholic mulled wine; fresh baked sweet mince pies; home-made pork scratchings; fairground rides for little ones; and Santa's Christmas treasure hunt. The lights will be switched on at 6pm.

On Sunday in Peebles High Street people are invited to come along from 3pm to enjoy all delights of the Open Air Market. The Taylor Brothers will be live on stage from 3.20pm with InChorus following on just shortly after. The Peebles Burgh Silver Band will play all the well-known Christmas Carols for the build-up to the Big Switch On at 5.30pm.

In Newtown St Boswells ‘Switch on Sunday’ takes place at the Newtown Community Wing Sprouston Road between noon and 4pm where people can browse at some craft stalls with cards, clothes and much more and also enjoy the ever popular raffle and tombola.

On Sunday 5 December in Earlston there will be a parade from the Primary School at 5.30pm with the lights being switched on at 6pm in the square whilst up the A68 in Lauder there will be an outdoor festival taking place 3pm -7pm with Santa’s grotto, street entertainment, Christmas jumper competition and face painting. The light will be switched on at 5pm.

Other towns and villages in the region are still finalising plans.