IT IS time to get your skates on as the main event of a month-long Christmas festival gears up to open.

People with a passion for the ice, or those who like to have a stumble along, are now being encouraged to get their orders in early as tickets for Weymouth’s first ever real ice rink are now on sale.

The ice rink, which will be installed outside Debenhams in New Bond Street in the town centre, will be open from Friday, December 4 until Sunday, December 27 as part of the BIG Christmas event, organised by Weymouth Business Improvement District (BID).

It is one of the initiatives launched by the BID to try and increase footfall into the town centre and as part of the ice rink event, Santa will also be making an appearance in his grotto to meet children and hand out presents.

The BID has also introduced an online ticket booking system for both the ice rink and the grotto, to try and minimise queuing for families and ensuring they can have more time in the shops.

Nigel Reed, Weymouth BID Manager, urged people to get their tickets early before they sell out.

Mr Reed said: “By having the online bookings for the ice rink and Santa’s grotto, visitors and locals can plan their day trips into Weymouth a lot better and minimise queueing.

“We hope to see a substantial rise in footfall to Weymouth businesses throughout the month-long event.”

Weymouth’s BIG Christmas begins on Friday, December 4 with the BIG Christmas Opening Night when businesses in the town will dress their windows and get into the Christmas spirit.

The town’s Christmas lights will be switched on at 6pm, with a jaw-dropping light and ice skating display from Bournemouth-based BxFist Freestyle Ice Skating team at 7pm.

A Christmas Market will be open until 9pm and the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce has sponsored the best dressed Christmas window competition and the winner will be announced on December 4.

The following day, there will be a pop-up pantomime of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which is being performed at Weymouth Pavilion throughout the yuletide period, and there will be performances of Punch and Judy.

Weymouth’s BIG Christmas The event is sponsored by Weymouth BID, Wetherspoons, Goadsby, SEA LIFE Adventure Park and Santa’s Grotto is sponsored by Fish ‘n’ Fritz and is being backed by the Dorset Echo.

For more information and to book tickets visit weareweymouth.co.uk/christmas