PREPARATIONS are under way for this year’s Weymouth Christmas Sparkle.

The festive shopping and entertainment spectacular is taking place on Thursday, December 13 from 3pm to 9pm in Weymouth town centre.

Organisers hope the weather will be kinder this year after the latter part of last year’s event was hit by heavy rain.

Stalls will be dotted throughout the town centre and shoppers can get in the festive mood with mulled wine and a hog roast. There will be a children’s lantern parade, a treasure hunt and local school choirs will be singing carols and brass bands will be playing Christmas music and carols.

The event is being organised by the Sparkle working group, which includes members of Weymouth Harbourside Rotary Club.

Rosie Sherrett, chairman, said music will be heard throughout the town. “This year we have looked at the use of the main stage and decided that it would be nice to have more than one area in the town with music going on.

“So you will find as you walk through town you will hear the different choirs singing carols and brass bands playing traditional Christmas music,” she said.

Mrs Sherrett said: “Sparkle is a Christmas event that gets everyone in the mood for seasonal activities by engendering a Yuletide atmosphere.

“It is a family event and there will be things going on that will interest all people of all ages.

“The preparations are now well under way and we are confident that this year’s event will be more successful than ever.”

All monies raised from Sparkle will go to local charities in Weymouth and Portland.

People can get involved by contacting members of the Sparkle working group through the event website. There are also regular news updates on Facebook and Twitter.

See weymouthchristmassparkle.co.uk, facebook.com/weymouthsparkle, twitter.com/weymouthsparkle or email fun@weymouthchristmassparkle.co.uk To enquire about a stall or book a stall contact Ryan Hope through the website.

Sparkle organisers are also appealing for prizes for a raffle on its stall. They can be contacted through the website weymouthchristmassparkle.co.uk.