A SPECTACULAR lantern parade by Saundersfoot schoolchildren and their families will get the village’s Christmas market weekend off to a sparkling start on Friday.

Recent weeks have seen the youngsters creating their own individual festive lanterns out of recycled plastic bottles.

These will be illuminated by battery-operated tealights and carried on a procession from Coppet Hall into the heart of the village where the three-day St Nicholas Market is set up on the seafront.

Event organiser, Saundersfoot Chamber for Tourism, and Saundersfoot CP School are delighted to work together on staging the illuminated parade.

“The children have loved decorating their lanterns, and are very excited about being involved in this lovely community occasion,” said the school’s deputy head, Sharon Gillespie.

The school choir will be singing at 2pm on Friday to mark the opening of the market, with the procession forming up at 5pm, led by Father Christmas and Saundersfoot’s county councillor and community council chairman, Phil Baker.

It will make its way down the Strand, pausing for the switch-on of the Sensory Gardens Christmas tree and then onto the new harbour decking where carols will be sung around the seven-metre high Christmas lighting feature which is sponsored by G.D. Harries and Sons.

The market takes place on Friday from 2pm-7pm, Saturday from 10am to 7pm and Sunday from 10am-5pm, and will also feature over 60 stalls in its heated harbour side marquee.

There will be chef demonstrations from culinary maestros including S4C’s Anthony Evans; live music from Fiddlebox, Quarto, The Butch Boys and Tudor’s Christmas Crackers, as well as other attractions including a display from Pembrokeshire Falconry.

Unlimited admission to the marquee is £2, which covers the whole weekend and includes free entry into the Grand Market Draw for prizes donated by stallholders and Saundersfoot Chamber for Tourism members.