A free day of festive fun is being hosted in Milford Haven tomorrow (Saturday).

Two professional face-painters will be at Café 81 in Charles Street from 11am and Father Christmas will be at the grotto in SkallyWags for children to visit all day.

Stilt-walking Uncle Sam will also be entertaining crowds all afternoon.

At 3.45pm entertainment will begin outside the town hall, including performances by the Neyland ladies choir and a puppet show.

The annual lantern parade will leave the police station at 4.30pm and arrive at the town hall at 5pm for the town’s Christmas lights switch-on. More than 400 children, parents and residents are expected to take part.

Police are advising motorists that to facilitate the parade the area on Hamilton Terrace, outside the town hall, will be closed to traffic from 4pm until after the festivities, with cars set to be diverted down Sandhurst Road and around the Rath.

They have asked that there should be no parking on the Rath between the junction with Hamilton Terrace and the junction with Sandhurst Road or on Sandhurst Road itself until the parade is complete.

Poetry competition winner eight-year-old Kate Barnard, of Hubberston primary school, and painting competition winner six-year-old Georgia Davies, of Hakin infants school, will be assisting Father Christmas in switching on the festive lights.

The town council’s new snow machines will also feature at the event for the first time to ensure a winter wonderland for the youngsters of the town.