Ballymena's Christmas events programme revealed

And the shopping season kicks off with the town’s annual Discount Day on Thursday November 3 from 9am-9pm.

In addition to the discounts on offer by traders, there will be a Cool FM road show in the afternoon at the bandstand as well as live music on the streets.

The Christmas lights switch-on ceremony will take place on Thursday November 10 at The Braid.

The council is also planning several initiatives to attract business to the town during the season.

On Friday October 28, the Small Business Saturday UK bus tour will arrive in Ballymena to celebrate the success of small businesses in the local community. The bus will play host to numerous activities, workshops and small businesses exhibits.

In addition, Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID) has won free bus advertising worth £25,000 Business in the Community’s Healthy High Streets Programme. Promotional activities will commence in mid-October, when 70 buses promoting the town and featuring the ‘Ballymena bear’ will be visible on bus routes from Coleraine to Larne and within Ballymena town.

The council is also considering plans for a marketing campaign to promote Discount Day and Christmas. This could include a ‘premiere of the teddy bear’ at the cinema before the Christmas lights switch on.