THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend the festivities of this year's Louth Christmas Craft Market.

Louth and District Lions' Club has once again organised the market in the town centre on Sunday, December 7 from 10am to 4pm, with members of Louth Round Table and Rotary Club assisting on the day.

Event organiser Bob Booth said: "This year's market, as in previous years, will offer something for everyone and all the different crafts by local people will help provide lots of Christmas gift ideas.

"There will be more than 120 stalls including craft, trade and charity in the Market Place and Town Hall car park.

"There will be a full programme of entertainment on the stage throughout the day and, of course, Father Christmas will be dropping by."

Crafts will include wood turning, jewellery, textiles, photographs, wooden toys and gemstones.

The market is an ideal time for local charities and fundraising organisations to boost their coffers.

As well as Louth and District Lions, Rotary and Round Table, there will also stands by Louth and District Hospice, Lincolnshire and Lindsey Blind Society, Spout Yard Park Management Trust, Louth Navigation Trust plus many others.

Lots of different food will be on offer including hot chestnuts, Schwenken Grill german sausages and Austrian Hot Gluwein.

Most shops and businesses in the town will be open.

There will be horse carriage rides depending on the weather.

Children will be able to enjoy fair ground rides in the Market Place and Town Hall car park.

Entertainment includes stilt walker and juggler Adrian Ley from Feet First Entertainment who will perform all morning and will have a children's show on the stage at 11am.

Members of Louth Playgoers will be showing their circus skills for their musical Barnum to be performed in May.

There will also be music from local band Southbase as well as the Churches Together choir, Louth Methodist Church Choir and Louth Male Voice Choir.

Father Christmas will arrive at about 1.45pm on his sleigh with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs cast members from Louth Playgoers to hand out presents and sweets to children on the stage.

Louth Mayor Fran Treanor and Coun Robert Palmer, chairman of East Lindsey District Council will be attending to help judge the best dressed stall competition with prizes sponsored by Boyes.