CHRISTMAS lights, festive crafts, Yuletide carols and more...there's a definite seasonal feel to this weekend's events calendar around Helensburgh and Lomond.

And it's a busy one too, with events – Christmas-related or otherwise – taking place in Colquhoun Square, Hermitage Academy, the Victoria Halls, Helensburgh Parish Church, Cove Burgh Hall and more.

There's lots of sport on the menu for the weekend too, with football, rugby and hockey fixtures all taking place in and around the town on Saturday.

Here's a complete run-down, in (roughly) chronological order, of what's happening across the area this weekend...

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NCT Lomond’s annual nearly new toy sale takes place on Saturday, November 23 at Helensburgh Parish Church hall from 10-11.30am.

Bag a bargain. Books, DVDs, toys, games and puzzles will be available (no baby equipment or clothes).

For more details contact nns.lomond@nct.org.uk or Facebook/NCTLomond or call 07896 741214.

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The sixth Cove and Kilcreggan Book Festival takes place at Cove Burgh Hall on Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24.

This year’s line-up includes many hugely popular fiction and non-fiction authors, including Dame Denise Mina, Sir Tom Devine, Stuart Cosgrove, Dame Helena Kennedy, Melanie Reid, Gavin Francis, David Pratt, Philip Long of the V&A in Dundee, and Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, otherwise known as Ambrose Parry.

The first session, with Denise Mina, is at 10.30am on Saturday. Book tickets for all the sessions now at coveburghhall.org.uk.

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READ MORE: David Pratt's war photography to feature at Cove and Kilcreggan's book festival

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The annual Christmas Craft Fair organised by Hermitage Academy's PTA takes place at the school on Saturday, November 23 from 11am-3pm.

With more than 80 craft stalls on display and lots of fun activities for the children, it promises to be a great day out for local residents and visitors to the town.

In addition to the huge variety of craft stalls, there will also be lots of family-friendly fun, including face painting, hot dogs, games, a tombola, home baking, a raffle and a mission to help Santa find his reindeer.

Money raised at the event will be used to fund extracurricular school clubs and activities vital to pupils’ development and wellbeing.

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Helensburgh's Christmas lights will be illuminated in Colquhoun Square at 5pm on Saturday, November 23 – but a full afternoon of entertainment gets under way in the square at 2pm.

Many town centre businesses will be running special offers to celebrate the occasion, while the Helensburgh and Lomond Artisans Association are holding a craft fair in the Parish Church halls from 2-5pm, offering lots of home made arts and crafts with a very special Christmas theme.

The Helensburgh Dorian Choir will be staging their annual ‘Coffee and Carols’ event in the halls complex from 2-4pm, and you can also pop across to Bethesda Christian Fellowship from 4-6pm and enjoy their hot chocolate, a chat and a seat for a while.

And in Colquhoun Square itself there will be a choice of children’s rides, outdoor refreshments from local businesses, on-stage entertainment from young people from Studio30 – and Santa and friends will arrive on a special vehicle later in the afternoon.

Santa will also choose the name of the lucky person who will switch on the lights – picked from a lucky raffle run during the afternoon, which you can enter at his ‘North Pole Post Office’ in the square – ahead of the big switch on of the town’s spectacular Christmas lighting display at around 5pm.

In addition there will also be plenty of opportunity to donate to the work of the Helensburgh Festive Lighting Charitable Trust – the ‘elves’ who are responsible for the stunning display.

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READ MORE: Helensburgh's festive lights find a new home after 'eviction'

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The Helensburgh Dorian Choir is holding its annual coffee ‘n’ Carols event in Helensburgh Parish Hall on Saturday, November 23 from 2-4pm.

With a new venue this year, there will be more stalls and extra room for customers to sit and enjoy coffee/tea and mince pies and to listen to the choir’s members sing carols throughout the afternoon.

Stalls include a bottle stall, home baking, Christmas gifts, raffle ,and children’s stall.

Entry is £3 (free for children under five).

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Helensburgh RFC's efforts to haul themselves up the league table in Tennent's West Regional Division 2 continue on Saturday, November 23 when they play host to Strathaven.

Kick-off at Ardencaple is at 2pm.

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READ MORE: The only way is up as Helensburgh RFC are forced to forfeit Cumnock tie

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Football fans looking for a local game to take in on Saturday have not one but two choices on offer.

Rhu Amateurs play Viewfield Rovers at Ardenconnel Park, while Helensburgh FC take on Eastwood Parkmount A at Hermitage Academy.

Both matches kick off at 2pm.

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Loch Lomond Hockey Club have back-to-back home fixtures at Hermitage Academy on Saturday, November 23.

The club's first team take on Rottenrow Blue Sox, who lie second top of the West District's first division, while the Loch Lomond second XI play host to fourth division table-toppers Western Wildcats 3.

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READ MORE: Heather's on fire as Loch Lomond win close cup tie

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The annual Advent Fair in Luss is at the Loch Lomond Arms Hotel in the village from 11am-5pm on Sunday, November 24.

Featuring a host of local suppliers, arts and crats makers, and food and drink, proceeds from the event will go to the Broomwood Ethiopia charity, which was set up in 2011 to build and run a new school for orphans and vulnerable children in one of Africa's poorest regions.

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The next concert in the ‘Sunday at Seven’ series at Helensburgh Parish Church takes place on Sunday, November 24 at 7pm.

Pupils from Hermitage Academy will play a selection of music to suit all tastes, under the direction of their director of music, Pamela Frew.

The concert lasts one hour. Entry is free with an opportunity to give a donation as you leave.

More details from Helensburgh Parish Church on 01436 676880.

READ MORE: Catch up on all the latest news from around Helensburgh and Lomond here