Ryde's Merry and Bright will see family fun tonight, from 5pm.

Lanterns, street entertainment, costumes, late night shopping and the switching on of the town's Christmas tree lights will entertain.

At 5.30pm, a community lantern parade sets off from Aspire Ryde in Dover Street.

Scroll down for the full route...

RAW Samba will lead the procession, which will feature willow and tissue paper creations, made by families from Oakfield and Wootton Primary Schools.

At 7pm, the Grinch and Derek Sandy will help Ryde Town Council kick off the countdown to Christmas, in Minghella Square, by switching on the lights on the town's three Christmas trees.

Shops will stay open until 8pm and we are being challenged to spot the cheeky elf on posters in shop windows. Anyone can play - use your smartphone to reveal a code.

Collect nine before December 12 and decipher the magic word or phrase, to enter a prize draw.

Chris Slann, Director of the New Carnival Company said: "This project has been a fantastic collaboration.

"We want the people of the town to be proud of Merry and Bright and feel it belongs to them, to nurture and grow it, to share with Islanders and visitors alike”

Lantern Parade route: Aspire Ryde, Dover Street (at 5:30pm) to Star Street, the High Street, bottom of Union Street, ending at about 6.15pm.