TWINKLING lights will soon brighten up the dark winter evenings around the county after a series of 'switch-on' events.

Hundreds of people will wrap up warm to ring in the Christmas countdown as many town's push the button to light up the high streets.

Here's a list of many events going on across Oxfordshire.

• Thursday November 28

The Kidlington Christmas lights will turn on at 6.30pm at the Village Centre.

From 5.30pm through until 7.30pm residents will be able to pet real reindeer and other farmyard animals, visit Santas grotto for free and sing-along to toe-tapping festival performances from local school choirs.

• Friday November 29

Oxford Mail:

Witney's main event will be hosted on Friday evening, kick-starting at 4pm.

The stage, set up in Witney Marketplace, will be full to the brim of people from West Oxfordshire Academy of Performing Arts' Adult Singing Groups, Children's Theatre School and WOAPA's Witney Youth Choir who will give a seasonal spectacular just before the lights are buzzed on at 5.30pm.

The event is jointly organised by Witney Rotary Club, Witney Lions and Witney Round Table.

• Saturday November 30

Tasty treats will tempt the tastebuds of locals at the usual weekend market on London Road in Headington, but instead of finishing at lunchtime, the traders will keep on selling until 4pm when the switch on event will start outside Barclays Bank.

Revellers will sway to the tune of a choir singing festival carols before the twinkly lights get switched on at 4.25pm.

The lights, which are hung up around the Christmas tree next to the bank branch and wrapped around real trees down the high street, have been organised by the community group Headington Action.

Bicester will also transform into a festive spectacle when the lights are switched on at 6pm.

Lanterns will be carried through Cemetery Road down to Market Square in a special parade at 5pm.

Market Square will also play host to seven hours of local talent with fun fair rides and an ice rink opening its doors from 12noon.

A Christmas market will also be set up on Sheep Street from 10am until 7pm – organised by OneBicester.

Oxford Mail:

Celebrity sitcom star Joanna Page, who played Stacey in the much-loved television comedy Gavin & Stacey will be turning on the lights in Abingdon at the Christmas Extravaganza on the same day.

Abingdon Chamber of Commerce, which organises the annual event, posted the full line-up on Facebook.

She will be one of the only celebrities making a star-studded appearance at the light switch on events this year.

It will take place in Market Place on November 30 and highlights include a parade at midday, morris dancing at 12.30pm and various entertainment until the actress leads the switch-on at 6pm.

It will be immediately followed by a firework display.

• Sunday December 1

Wallingford's Christmas Shopping Sunday will take place again this year from 12pm until 5pm when the lights are switched on.

Local shops have teamed up to put on offers for those who come down, including Hank's Bar who are giving away a free drink.

• Friday December 6

Oxford Mail:

Revellers will dress up in period costume for the switch-on event in Wantage.

The festive event is hosted as part of the annual Dickensian evening – which takes place in the Market Place on the first Friday of December every year, and has done for the last 20 years.

The free evening of fun is organised by a group of volunteers and sponsored by Wantage Town Council. From 4pm the roads into Wantage Market Place are closed as traders getting ready for the locals who will start to roll in from 6pm.

The Mayor of Wantage will join radio presenters to switch on the lights and folk band Pandemonium will carry on the festivities in the museum.