CHRISTMAS markets will be coming to East Lancashire and beyond this year.

From festive gifts to mulled wine, the Christmas markets always prove to be popular with gift ideas and tasty treats.

So for a great day out check the list of markets in East Lancashire and further afield.

What: Hoghton Tower Farmers' Market and Meet Father Christmas
Where: Hoghton Tower
When: Sunday December 18
Time: 10am - 2pm
This popular food producers' market features over 50 stalls offering the tastiest seasonal produce to visitors. Take your pick from a wide variety of fresh meat, fish, vegetables and fruits.

What: Christmas Market
Where: Darwen Market
When: Saturday December 10 and Saturday December 17
Time: 10am -1pm
This Christmas you’ll find a host of family fun, including children’s face painting and balloon modelling and a free prize draw every Saturday to win a bag full of festive goodies. Santa will also be at the market every Saturday and on Friday December 16 when the market will be open late until 7pm he will be on the Market Square giving out selection boxes.

What: A Market Full of Magic and carols round the crib
Where: Blackburn Market
When: Sunday, December 18
Time: From 6pm
To celebrate Blackburn Market’s first Christmas in its new location in the lower ground floor of The Mall shopping centre, local painter and printmaker Julia Swarbrick has moved in as artists in residence and has created a unique Christmas mural on the Market’s shop windows. Join in for carols round the crib whilst shopping on the town’s new market.

What: Festive Food Market Where: Wellybobs Farm, Davyfield Farm, Roman Road, Darwen
When: Sunday, December 18
Time: 10am - 4.30pm
Join in the fun at Wellybobs Farm with festive stalls offering local food and drinks. Get into the Christmas spirit, while browsing the twinkling stalls.

What: Christmas Market
Where: Backridge Farm, Waddington
When: Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11
Time: 10am - 5am
The farm’s traditional market is being held under marquees in which will play host to a wide variety of festive food, drink and gift stalls. The event is free and there will a festive BBQ.

What: Croston Village Christmas Fayre
Where: Croston, Leyland
When: Sunday, December 11
Time: 1pm - 7.30pm
A true village Christmas Fair which starts at 1:00 pm with Santa’s arrival, also market/craft stalls, children’s fun fair, Santa’s Grotto, land train, 2 local brass bands, choir, a lone piper, magician, street entertainers, torchlight procession, hog roast, mulled wine and more.

FURTHER AFIELD

What: Yuletide Festival & Christmas Market
Where: Skipton
When: Tomorrow and Sunday December 11
Time: 10am - 4pm
Skipton's Yuletide Festival and market is now in its 17th year. This event attracts tens of thousands of people on the first two Sundays of December. This year we see the return of Bjorn the Polar Bear, the Tap Dancing Turkeys, talk of the town last year Musical Ruth and her piano - plus along with these great acts we have our regulars - Skipton Brass Band, Barnoldswick Brass Band, Nelson Brass Band and Accrington Pipe Band.

What: Manchester Christmas Markets
Where: Albert Square, Brazenose St, King St, St Ann's Square, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square When: Thursday November 17 to Wednesday December 21
Time: 10am - 8pm
The perfect place to get your evening started, pick up some fabulous Christmas gifts, or relax after a hard day's Christmas shopping, the markets really have become a very firm fixture of everybody's yuletide countdown. European and local producers offer everything from fine amber jewellery, handcrafted leather bags, and top quality bonsai trees, to Dutch cheeses, French breads, and Spanish chorizo. Perfect for alternative gift ideas, enjoy the banter and advice of stallholders from all over the continent.