IT costs more than £40,000 and has been almost a year in the planning but the countdown is now on for Southend’s spectacular Christmas celebrations.

Each year the big Christmas lights switch-on pulls in crowds eager to be filled with Yuletide cheer.

This year, the celebrations will be the biggest ever, with three days of events leading up to the big event.

Representatives of Southend Council, the Royals and Victoria shopping centres, South Essex College and the Southend Town Centre Partnership are some of the organisations which play a huge role in making sure events go without a hitch. Other sponsors to this year’s Christmas spectacular include McDonald’s, Elvanite, Dynamic Fireworks, the Cliffs Pavilion and the Park Inn Palace Hotel.

CHRISTMAS ON SEA - THE SCHEDULE

FOR those who haven’t dusted off their Christmas spirit yet, there will be plenty of festive cheer to get help this month.

Christmas officially starts in Southend on Saturday, November 19, when the town centre will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland.

The free Christmas Spectacular, a prelude to the Christmas lights switch-on and magical fireworks display, includes a cracking programme of fun entertainment for all the family.

It will feature the Royals shopping centre Christmas parade led by Santa and his favourite real reindeer.

Students from the East 15 Acting School will provide street entertainment, and there will be music and entertainment from Heart Live, including the Breakfast crew’s Martin and Su.

BBC Essex and its presenters, Steve Scruton and Ian Wyatt, will be at the top of Pier Hill along with Children in Need mascot Pudsey the bear.

The Christmas Spectacular Stage, in Victoria Circus, will be the setting for a fantastic range of live acts between 12.30pm and 3.30pm.

At 1pm, the Royals Christmas Parade will be marching down the High Street, starting at Elmer Approach and finishing at the Royals shopping centre.

Led by the Essex Marching Corps, Santa will be drawn by his reindeer, alongside other famous festive characters.

He will then be chatting to youngsters about what they want for Christmas from his throne in his Winter Wonderland under the glass dome at the Royals.

A giant interactive snow globe will be available throughout the day at Victoria Circus. Families and small groups can have their picture taken in a snow blizzard for just £7 per picture.

There will be a glorious end to the day at 5pm as Southend is officially illuminated by the Christmas lights. Then, “snow” will fall, and at 5.30pm a firework extravaganza will begin at Pier Hill.

John Lamb, Southend Council’s deputy leader, said: “With activities starting from 8.30am to 5.30pm, it really is a whole day of free Christmas fun to bring families and the community together.

“The light switch-on is always a big event for us, and we are very pleased and proud to have the Heart Essex and BBC Essex radio crews do the honours for us this year.

“With snow falling and dazzling fireworks, it will be the type of magical event Southend and its residents deserve.”

The day will kick off with a Christmas farmers and craft market, which will continue every Saturday until December 23.

There will also be a Carols at Christmas concert on Saturday, December 17, and there will be free parking every Thursday in December after 4pm, so people can make the most of the late night shopping.”

Finally, there’s a chance to win a £1,000 High Street shopping experience with heaps of treats.

For more details see the Christmas-on-Sea Festive Guide, available from various High Street stores. Tickets to see Santa are available from Debenhams.