PANTO fans are snapping up tickets for a classic show which opens what promises to be a memorable weekend in Handforth.

Handforth Youth Centre in Old Road is to host Aladdin on Friday, November 24, with shows at 4pm and 7pm.

The panto will be followed on Saturday, November 25, by a festive market and the switching-on of Handforth’s Christmas lights.

New for this year are a Christmas grotto, where children will be able to meet Santa, and live reindeer.

The market and entertainment will take place at The Paddock from 1pm to 5pm, with the Christmas lights being turned on at 4.30pm.

Aladdin is being staged by Chaplins Pantos 4 Kids, and the panto is being organised by Handforth Parish Council.

“This is the third year we have organised a panto, following Dick Whittington and Jack and the Beanstalk,” said parish clerk Ashley Comiskey Dawson.

“Tickets are selling fast, with half already having gone for each show, and we expect it to be a sell-out.”

Tickets are only £1 for adults and 50p for children, an amazing price considering that includes a drink and goody bag for each child on arrival.

Tickets are available by emailing clerk@handforth.org.uk or calling 01625 523330.

Handforth welcomes the festive season the following day with the a market, featuring dozens of stalls run by local charities, and entertainment, followed by the lights switch-on.

The entertainment opens with a performance by the You Should Be Dancing Theatre Academy between 2.30pm and 3pm, followed by the Salvation Army band from 3pm to 4pm, and a rock choir from 4pm to 4.20pm.

The parish council is running a competition for primary schools to design a poster to promote the Christmas lights celebrations, and the pupil producing the winning poster will have the honour of turning on the festive lights show.

The closing date for poster entries is November 9.

The market is due to feature between 20 and 30 stalls, and there will be a bouncy castle to keep the children entertained.

The lights are set to be turned on at the bandstand, and the parish council thanked Emerson Management Services for its support.