CHRISTMAS is fast approaching and many towns and villages across East Lothian are getting into the festive spirit.

Already, lights have been switched on in North Berwick, Haddington, Dunbar and Musselburgh.

Elphinstone Christmas lights will be switched on by one of the village pupils this evening (Friday) at 6pm.

Youngsters from the primary school will also be singing carols at the switch-on.

Elsewhere, Wallyford’s Christmas lights will also be officially switched-on this evening during a ceremony at the Mining Memorial Stone.

A torchlight parade led by the Cockenzie and Port Seton Pipe Band will leave the miners’ welfare club at 6.30pm en route to the memorial stone at the St Clement’s housing estate, where the village Christmas tree is sited.

The ceremony will be led by this year’s Gala Queen Chloe Hilson and Gala King Mackenzie Francis, who will switch-on the lights.

Christmas carols and songs will be sung, including ‘Away in a Manger’ and ‘Jingle Bells’. Andrew Agnew, pastor of the Wallyford Livingroom Church, and Gordon Stevens of St Clement’s Church, Wallyford, will give a Christmas messages.

Mr Agnew’s wife Carol, chairwoman of Wallyford Primary School’s Parent Council, will lay a wreath at the memorial stone.

Santa will then hand out treats to children at the school, where the parent council has organised tea and biscuits after the switch-on event.

The lights are also being switched on in Pencaitland tonight, between 5pm and 9pm.

As with last year, the community council plans to have carols, refreshments and a local champion deserving recognition for their past good work in the community to do the honours and flip the switch on this year's tree lights.

Charlie Farren's Ross High and cluster primaries Brass Band will be on hand to provide some very welcome musical cheer to proceedings.

Tomorrow (Saturday), it is the turn of Athelstaneford.

The switch-on takes place at 5pm but the entertainment gets under way an hour beforehand.

Head along to the village hall, where there are stalls selling everything from jewellery, crafts, books and whisky to hot food, mince pies, prosecco, beer and mulled wine.

There are also children’s activities, and the event runs until 6.30pm.

Gullane’s switch on also takes place on Saturday at 5.30pm.

Then on Sunday there is a gala winter wonderland in Tranent Parish Church.

The wonderland, which will feature festive stalls, refreshments and Santa in his grotto, takes place between 2pm and 4.30pm.

This year, the Tranent lights will be switched on by Gala Queen Lucy and her consort Aaron at 5pm.

Santa's torchlight procession will make its way from the hall to the tree for the official ceremony at 4.45pm.

On the same day, in Cockenzie and Port Seton, the Christmas lights will be switched on at 5pm, followed by a parade to Port Seton Centre for hot drinks and mince pies.

Meanwhile, in Prestonpans a parade will leave the community centre at 5.15pm on Sunday, led by Santa, as it heads to the tree to switch on the Christmas lights.

Ormiston's lights are switched on on Monday, from the church car park on Main Street.

Finally, outside the British Legion in Longniddry, the Christmas Lights are switched on on Wednesday. Head along for 4pm.