This year looks set to be one of the most festive to date for Sheerness with the amount of initiatives a group set up to boost trade has got in place.

Christmas fun will begin on Saturday, December 7, when a number of events will be taking place thanks to the Sheerness Town Team.

As part of Small Business Saturday, the High Street will be closed to traffic from the Clock Tower down to Victory Street and a seasonal market will be set up, for which people can apply for pitches to sell arts and crafts.

The national campaign is to encourage people to shop locally.

Traditional market barrows, which the group has paid £5,000 to have specially made, will also be on display, and are available for community groups to hire in the weeks leading up to the big day.

They have been painted by Minster resident Graham Gilmour-McBride in three themes: seaside, harvest and art deco.

It is also hoped there will be buskers and live music around the town centre to entertainment shoppers.

The Big Fish Arts Trust lantern parade will take place through the High Street, after meeting at Beachfields Park at 4pm.

It will culminate at the Clock Tower, where there will be music and refreshments, and Mayor of Swale Cllr Sue Gent will switch on the town’s lights.

This year, the Sheerness Town Team has taken over organising the lights, after they were donated the existing displays.

About £2,000 has been paid to repair and replace them.

Chris Reed, the Big Fish representative on the Town Team, said: “It’s all coming together and we are very excited about it.

“It will be really Christmassy out there.”

That Saturday will also see the launch of Swale Borough Council’s Christmas parking scheme, which is to encourage residents to shop locally and support town traders.

The “free after two” scheme will run every day until Christmas Eve at all council car parks.

There will also be free all-day parking at all council car parks on Sundays, December 8, 15 and 22.

To book a barrow for £20 for a day or a market pitch for £10, contact Heather Thomas-Pugh on 07882 918234.

• A Christmas craft fair will be held at Blue Town Heritage Centre, from 11am to 4pm on Saturday. There will be a range of hand-made gifts, treats and decorations available to buy at the High Street, Blue Town, venue. Entry is free.