Pettigo Christmas Tree Festival and Celebrating Christmas events are setting the scene for a warm, festive weekend.

The congregations of Pettigo Methodist and Presbyterian churches are finalising the arrangements for the special venture, when a full programme of events is planned for the two churches from November 30 to December 2 inclusive.

This is the second Christmas Tree Festival to be held in the Methodist church; last year there were 22 trees on display. "In the Methodist Church each organisation will decorate a tree using either a carol or a popular hymn to inspire their choice of decorations," explained a representative.

Pettigo Presbyterian Church will also be open this Saturday and Sunday to enable visitors to view its "Celebrating Christmas" decorations which will consist of floral arrangements and Christmas trees.

The Methodist church will be the venue for the opening of The Festival at 8pm on Friday Night, November 30; the President of the Methodist Church, the Rev. Ken Lindsay will open the event and special music will be provided by Kilskeery Silver Band.

This Saturday, both churches will be open for viewing from 11am to 6pm. There will be a Christmas Concert in Pettigo Methodist Hall on Saturday night when William Sayers from Limavady, Ballinamallard Methodist Choir and the Collum sisters from Letterbreen will be the main entertainers. Both churches will be open for viewing on Sunday afternoon and on Sunday night, the Presbyterian Church is set to perform a musical drama production "While Shepherd's Watched"; a celebration of the true meaning of Christmas, starting at 7.30pm.

"We hope that as visitors walk through the trees in the Methodist Church and visit "Celebrating Christmas" in the Presbyterian Church they will sense God's presence, bringing hope, love and joy and above all be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas," said the representative, who expects that "this should be a great weekend of spiritual inspiration, entertainment, fun and fellowship."