Portsmouth Christmas Lights Switch On, Southsea Centre, Portsmouth

Portsmouth will be switching on its Christmas lights this week, at a special ceremony at the Southsea Centre to herald the beginning of the festive season.

Taking place November 8th, the show will take in local schools singing Christmas carols, a firework display and Quay FM DJs on compere duty.

The organisers also promise prizes and goodie bags for attendees and a special appearance from Father Christmas.

The event takes place from 5pm-7pm.

Address: Southsea Centre, Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO5 3ST.

Other festive events taking place in Portsmouth include a new production of Hans Christian Andersen's Snow Queen at the Kings Theatre and Festival of Christmas - a series of special events taking place throughout December, which promises to take visitors back to the kind of vintage Victorian Yuletide that features in Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

National Express runs bus and coach travel services to Portsmouth from major towns and cities across the UK. To go by National Express coach, please use our journey planner for coach travel times and cheap ticket options.

See what else is on

• BUPA Great South Run, Portsmouth
• The Magic of the Musicals, Portsmouth Guildhall
• Kate Nash, Wedgwood Rooms, Portsmouth
• BUPA Great South Run, Portsmouth
• Grumpy Old Women, Theatre Royal, Glasgow
• The Comedy of Errors, The Lowry, Manchester
• Viva La Diva, Colston Hall, Bristol
• Booth Museum of Natural History, Brighton