AROUND 250 schoolchildren are getting set to take part in the festive fun at Festival Place.

Schoolchildren will have their moment in the spotlight tomorrow (November 16) as Christmas officially arrives at the Basingstoke shopping centre with a parade and lights switch-on.

The parade will end in Porchester Square and culminate in a grand finale of dance, lighting up a giant animatronic installation.

Around 250 children from Hatch Warren Infant School have been busy preparing for the parade and were joined this week by two of the winter woodland characters, Deer Darlington and Anka The Snow Hare, for rehearsals.

The procession, starting at 6pm, will capture the magic of Christmas and see children join characters Nancy Nutkins, Deer Darlington, Anka the Snow Hare and Snow White through the forest to help wake up Snowy the Wishmas Owl and kickstart the season.

Michelle Moore, headteacher at Hatch Warren Infant School, said: “The school is excited to be part of Festival Place's Christmas celebrations. This is a great opportunity for the children to take part in an extravaganza that celebrates the creative arts within their own local community.

“Music and dance are an important part of school and we are pleased to have been invited to this amazing event.”

Visitors to Festival Place will be able to try their hands at The Snowball Throwball competition, become a Stealthy Elfy in a laser mission, get hands-on with the latest children’s gifts at the Toy Lab, take time out in calming Christmas wreath-making workshops, get their pressies wrapped for a donation to St Michael’s Hospice, and get gift tips from the centre’s very own Fairy Gift Mother.

Visitors will, of course, be able to visit Santa in his traditional Grotto on the second floor, which will be Destination Christmas.

Neil Churchill, centre director at Festival Place, said: “Following weeks of preparations, we are ready to put on a spectacular show that will kick off the Christmas season in style and put everyone in the festive mood.

“We’re immensely proud of all the children taking part in the parade and they have all worked so hard to put on a memorable event that brings the whole of Basingstoke together.”