Lincoln BIG (Business Improvement Group) is pulling out the stops to ensure that the city is THE place to be over the festive season. 

A bulging diary of attractions and events promises to keep the Christmas spirit bubbling right up until the big day itself. 

There may not be an ice rink this year (due to cost constraints)  but shoppers are being encouraged to make the most of our fantastic Advent Calendar Trail, which will see 24 stores displaying bright red, branded and illuminated Advent Boxes. 

Each will be decorated by participating businesses and filled with "presents" worth £100. 

People will be encouraged to pop into the city centre, Steep Hill and Bailgate areas every day, to see what the latest box to be unveiled contains.  And a competition to accompany this initiative will culminate in one lucky person winning £2,400 worth of prizes (which might include gift vouchers) - i.e. £100 worth of goods from each box!

For instance, one prize will see the head chef from the White Hart Hotel in Bailgate cooking-up a special meal in that shopper's  home!

As an additional attraction on the day their box is unveiled, some businesses will be  offering shoppers an extra treat - which could be a small giveaway or a discount offer. People will be able to claim this by quoting a code word - such as "reindeer." 

The code words will be announced by local media and also by way of social media channels.  

And that's not all, Lincoln BIG levypayers are being encouraged to make the streets extra festive and welcoming by making most of our our special Christmas Tree deal. 

Lincoln BIG chief executive Matt Corrigan said: "It's been a tough year and, with the loss of last year's Christmas Market it's really important to make the city centre as bright and cheery as we possibly can to attract customers to the city this Christmas.

"With that in mind, we are offering our levypayers the chance to order, fully-Installed high quality artificial trees, pre-dressed, with low voltage LED light sets at 25 per cent off our normal price. 

"This means that a trade can buy a tree and a light set and have it installed for just £29.75, plus VAT."

The tree lights could be flicked on, when Lincoln's official lights "switch-on" takes Place on Thursday, November 17, at 7pm.

Of course everyone is looking forward to the return of the city's world famous Christmas Market, which takes from December 1 to 4 this year. A real crowdpuller, this event  is traditionally centred around the city's Castle Hill area, and attracts people from across the UK and even abroad. 

But there are other things to be enjoyed too. 

"Family attractions include the arrival of Santa and his Sleigh on November 26; a Farmers' Market on December 2, and Carousel Rides on December 3 and 4. These are all taking place in City Square," said Mr Corrigan. 

"On December 8 at 6pm reindeer fromScotland will walk from Bailgate to the Cornhill and we have also organised a Children's Lantern Parade for December 15. The Parade will leave the Cornhill and make its way up Steep Hill to Castle Hill for a Nativity Service."

And, for shoppers who fancy a touch of more exotic climes, St Mark's Square will be playing host to a Moroccan Market from December 1 to 22, offering people the chance to buy authentic African products.