There’s no need to go to Blackpool to see the illuminations when you can stay in town and see the big switch on of the Christmas Lights. Manchester city centre will be twinkling, gleaming and shimmering with all manner of pretty festive lights soon and the big names are in town to help flick the switch.

X Factor
There will be not just one but two X Factor finalists in town to switch on the Christmas Lights. Manchester Albert Square welcomes last year’s winner Alexandra Burke who will no doubt sing her heart out on Hallelujah as well as her new single Bad Boys. Burke will be following in the footsteps of previous X Factor winner Shane Ward in turning the lights on in Manchester, although you’d hope, in terms of career paths, that Burke doesn’t follow Ward’s trajectory down the swanny.

Scream the House Down
The roof is going to get blown off the domed Trafford Centre as the MOBO-award winning JLS make an appearance to switch on the shopping centre’s Christmas lights. Manchester may have the winner of X Factor but JLS, who came second last year, have become more successful and, after clearing up at the MOBO awards, they will have more teenage girls screaming their name than Robert Pattinson gets at at a Twilight premiere. Not only will you need earplugs to combat all the top-end but you may need sun glasses to shield your eyes as The Trafford Centre have reportedly spent £1.5 million on Christmas lights. Manchester will feel very Christmasy wherever you are and, if you're an out of towner, it is one of the best destinations this winter.

There are two key dates for the switch on of Christmas Lights: Manchester Albert Square takes place 7pm, 12th November 2009; The Trafford Centre turn theirs on from 4.30pm, Monday 29th October 2009. The lights will then be on until January 2010.