BURNLEY will mark the count down to the festive period with a two day Christmas extravaganza.

The two day festival in the town centre will start on Saturday, November 18 from 10am with an amazing ice sculpture trail.

The ice sculpture was hugely popular last year and is returning with a festive family focus.

There will be a number of impressive festive sculptures around the town centre and visitors are invited to follow the trail to help the shy Little Nutcracker build up courage to bang his drum.

Visitors taking part in the trail will be able to enter into a free prize draw to win a voucher to spend in the town centre.

The highlight will be a live ice carving of the Little Nutcracker in the Market Square throughout the day.

As the sun goes down the town centre will get ready for a magical light parade. Starting at 4pm, Creative Alliance Artists, Burnley Youth Theatre and members of the 'Lantern Squad' who made their own lanterns during the half term holiday, will parade through the town centre along St James’ Street and Curzon Street towards The Mall by Clintons Cards.

The parade should reach The Mall by 5pm where there will be more music and celebration.

On Sunday, November 19 the town centre will be filled with festive music and performances from noon, including brass bands, steel pans, Burnley Youth Theatre performances and more. The stage for the youth theatre and festive Switch On Show will be supplied by local transport company Fagan & Whalley.

Visitors will also be enchanted by the majestic Snow Lion and the White Queen.

From 4.30pm there will be an all-singing, all-dancing, amazing, festive Switch On Show by local business It’s My Party, leading to the Burnley Christmas lights switch on and a fantastic fireworks display.

A Christmas market will be held in Market Square on both days and on December 7, 14 and 21 staying open for late night shopping.

Cllr Lian Pate, Burnley Council's executive member for community services, said: “There’s lots of great reasons to get ready for Christmas in Burnley town centre.”

Charter Walk shopping centre will have festive entertainment and attractions every Saturday in December, an amazing Reindeer parade will be held on Sunday, November 26 as well as late night shopping on Thursdays throughout December.

All council car parks will be free from 5pm on late night shopping Thursdays from November 23 up to Christmas as well as every Sunday.