WITH the official switching on of York's Christ-mas lights this week, it's fair to say the festive shopping season is more or less with us. One of the great things about York as a shopping destination - apart from the beauty of the city's historic streets - is the distinctive character of its various shopping quarters.

From the bustling curio and antiques shops around Stonegate to the individual shops, restaurants and caf bars of the Swinegate quarter; from the High Street names in Coney Street to the designer style of Petergate; the distinctive shops and great restaurants in Fossgate to the contemporary shopping facilities in Coppergate; thriving Newgate market to the street entertainment that characterises Parliament Street and St Helens Square; York's got the lot.

As if all that weren't enough, there is the choice of three out-of-town shopping centres at Fulford, Monks Cross and Clifton Moor as well.

It's enough to make other cities weep. "We have the largest variety of stores and retail outlets anywhere in Yorkshire," says Sally Slack, chair of the retail committee of York Chamber of Commerce and manager of Racing Green in Coney Street. "There is nothing that York hasn't got; and on top of that, York has a personality bigger than any other city in the whole of the UK."

Never is that more important than over the festive season. And this year especially, in the wake of 12 months that have seen floods, road and rail chaos, foot and mouth and, most recently, a slump in the number of overseas visitors following the events of September 11, the city is pulling out all the stops to ensure it is the place to go Christmas shopping - for residents and visitors alike.

Thursday's spectacular Christmas lights switch-on in Parliament Street will be followed by a similar event in Coppergate next Thursday - and they are just the beginning. A host of festive events is planned for the city centre over the coming weeks.

Principal among them will be the St Nicholas Fayre, now in its tenth year and promising to be bigger and better than ever.

The fayre, held in Parliament Street, St Sampson's Square and Kings Square from November 22 to 25, will feature the traditional craft market, a mouth-watering array of some of the county's finest produce at the Yorkshire Pantry Market, the antique, curio and collectors' fair in the Merchant Adventurers' Hall in Piccadilly and the medieval market in Barley Hall, York's medieval townhouse.

All this, plus street theatre, music and dance.

There is plenty more to come as well. From November 26 right up until Christmas Eve, St Sampson's Square will be doubling up as Lapland, with the arrival of a Santa's Grotto, where you can stroll through animated scenes featuring huskies, polar bears and Santa's workshop before meeting the great man himself.

December in Parliament Street sees the return of the farmers' market (December 1 and 2), the Brigantia craft market (December 7,8 and 9) and the continental market (December 14, 15 and 16) at which traders from across Europe will be selling a fabulous selection of cheeses, pates, olives, sausages, beers, wine and crafts.

Theatres, concert venues and museums are all getting in on the act, too. There is an Edwardian Christmas Festival at the National Railway Museum on November 24 and 25 (admission free to adults in period costume), a 'Christmas Cracker of a Weekend' at the Castle Museum the same weekend and, on November 25, a community carol concert at the Barbican Centre.

The York Early Music Christmas Festival runs from December 13 to 21, with concerts of early music and songs from all cultures and ages at venues throughout York, including the Minster, the National Centre for Early Music in Walmgate, Fairfax House in Castlegate, the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall at the university and St Mary's Church, Bishophill.

And there is pantomime. As ever, the city has two to choose between. At York Theatre Royal from December 12 to February 2, it will be Jack And The Beanstalk, written by York's very own Panto dame Berwick Kaler and featuring the likes of genetically-modified beans and a giant created by Dr Evilstein. Over at the Grand Opera House, meanwhile, the festive offering from December 10 to January 6 is Dick Whittington, starring Anne Charleston - Madge from Neighbours.

The sheer variety of events this year will help to underline the fact that York is a fantastic place to visit at this time of year, says Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau. "The festive events play a major part in drawing in both day and overnight visitors - and we are 100 per cent confident that they will go home with nothing but the best impressions of our beautiful city," she says.

November 22: Coppergate Christmas Lights switch-on

November 22-25: St Nicholas Fayre

November 24-25: Edwardian Christmas Weekend at National Railway Museum

November 24-25: Christmas Cracker of a Weekend, Castle Museum

November 24, December 1 and 8: St Nicholas Walk, Museum Gardens, 10.30am

November 25: Community carols at the Barbican

November 26-December 24: Santa's Grotto, St Sampson's Square

December 1-2: Farmers' market, Parliament Street

December 5,6,7,8 and 11: Carols in Kirkgate, Castle Museum

December 7,8 and 9: Brigantia craft market, Parliament Street

December 10-January 6: Dick Whittington, Grand Opera House

December 12-February 13: Jack And The Beanstalk, York Theatre Royal

December 13-21: York Early Music Festival

December 14,15 and 16: Continental market, Parliament Street

To find out more about festive events in York, call the Christmas events hotline on 01904 554430 or York Tourist Information on 01904 621756.

Updated: 13:30 Saturday, November 17, 2001