Uxbridge town centre will be brought to life this weekend as a town parade and Christmas light switch on are set to kick off festivities in style.

Residents and shoppers will get the chance to meet Westlife star, Brian McFadden, and enjoy a festive parade, organised by Uxbridge Forward, Pavilions and intu shopping centres.

Join in with the fun on Sunday (22 November), at Chequers Square in the Pavilions at 3.30pm, where the parade will go through the high street and then the intu Uxbridge shopping centre and arrive back outside the station.

There will be choirs from schools across the borough, including Singability from Hillingdon.

The countdown to the light switch on, by Brian McFadden, will begin at 4:25pm, then shoppers will then be able to meet the Westlife star at intu Uxbridge.

Former Westlife singer Brian McFadden

The Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr George Cooper, will join the singer to switch on the lights.

He said: “This is going to be the biggest parade that Uxbridge has seen in recent years and we hope residents will come and join us.”

The Metropolitan police teamed up with the council to offer a gift giving service for children in care. Gift tags with a request will be attached to the railings around the Christmas tree for residents to take and buy a gift.

These can then be taken to Botwell Green Library, the Civic Centre and Uxbridge Police Station. The social services team will distribute them to children in need within the borough.

Mischievous and bouncing elves, Christmas belles and Jack Frost on stilts, will be spreading the Christmas cheer throughout intu Uxbridge from 1.30pm, with the festive evening finishing with carol singing in The Piazza at 5pm.

Read more: Christmas light switch ons across London

Natasha House, Marketing Manager at intu Uxbridge, said “The Christmas Parade & Light Switch On officially marks the start of the festive season for us here at intu Uxbridge!

“There’s plenty more fun coming our shopper’s way right up until Christmas Eve, and it’s not to be missed.”

Weekend Christmas Crafts, with free activities for younger shoppers, are available every weekend from 11am to 5pm until December 20. The fun includes Santa crafts, Christmas hat & stocking decorating and free t-shirt printing.

And for grown-up shoppers, there’s plenty of time to squeeze in the gift shopping this year, as intu Uxbridge will be opening their doors until 8pm Monday to Saturday from 1st December.

The Mayor will also be switching on the Christmas lights in Hayes town centre on Wednesday, 25 November outside St Anselm's Church, Station Road.

The Schools' Community Choir Hayes will perform a short concert in the church from 4.00pm and the lights will be switched on at 4.30pm.

For further details and timings about the Christmas switch on in Uxbridge, click here.