THAT festive feeling arrives in the Vale this week as Christmas events get underway and shoppers are encouraged to buy gifts from local businesses.

High Street, in Barry, will kick off the weekend activities with its Christmas Lights Switch-On on Friday, November 25.

Hundreds of people are expected to enjoy festive street entertainers and walk the lantern trail.

There will be live music from 4pm as the countdown begins.

Ice Central will launch at Central park, off King Square, Barry, on Saturday, November 26.

Central park will be home to Barry’s first undercover ice rink as part of Ice Central.

The undercover rink will open after the annual Christmas light switch-on at King Square at 5pm and then be available every day until Sunday, December 4.

Llantwit Major stages its Christmas Light Switch-On, also on, Saturday, November 26.

There will be live music, stalls, a children’s craft area and a free Santa’s grotto.

The lights go on at 7pm.

The St Athan Christmas Light Switch-On is at 5pm on Sunday, November 27.

It features street entertainment, fairground rides and a brass band.

The Cowbridge Reindeer Parade returns to the village with the switch-on of the town’s lights and a firework display to follow at 5:15pm on Sunday, November 27.

To encourage more people to shop locally in the run up to Christmas the Vale Council is also supporting a number of local initiatives.

Penarth late night shop on Thursday, December 1, includes festive special offers, refreshments, live music and carol singers, from 5pm to 8pm to tempt Penarth residents to shop local this Christmas.

A Dickensian Christmas Fair, takes place on the old village square, Dinas Powys, on Friday, December 2.

The fair will host a selection of stalls selling crafts, cards, food and drink, and gifts from 6pm.

Crafts for Christmas, St Donats features on Sunday, December 4.

The annual event at St Donats Castle will this year have more than 50 stalls selling jewellery, wood, glass, ceramics, textiles and much more, with festive entertainment and an outdoor birds of prey display also on offer.

And the Christmas Artisan Market, Barry will take place, from 10am to 5pm, on Saturday, December 10 with festive crafts, art, food and music.

Businesses will trade as usual.