The Newport Now Business Improvement District is organising the city’s first Living Advent Calendar.

Part of a series of Christmas events being organised by the BID, the Living Advent Calendar will see 24 city centre businesses provide live entertainment every day from December 1 to 24.

The Living Advent Calendar, an idea that has proved successful in Scandinavia and a number of British towns and cities, sees a different ‘window’ opened each day and a 15-minute performance given to the audience assembled outside each participating business.

Performances can range from songs, carols, music, poetry, book excerpts, creative arts, notes from local history or folklore, sketches and dance, all with a Christmas theme.

Each participating business will have their own event to run and, in true advent calendar style, the details of the of the actual performance will be kept secret and revealed on the day.

Audience members will have a ‘bingo card’ to fill in, with those who attend either the most or all performances entered into a draw to win a £250 Newport Now Gift Card which can be spent in more than 80 city centre businesses.

Businesses interested in taking part in the Living Advent Calendar should contact Newport Now manager Kevin Ward on 07824 472543 or kevin@kevinwardmedia.com

The Newport Now Countdown to Christmas, which includes live music, fairground rides, a firework display and the switching on of the city’s Christmas lights by a VIP guest, takes place on Saturday, November 17, from noon to 5.30pm. There will be road closures in place on Friday and Saturday.

The BID is also bringing a German-style Christmas market to Newport from December 4 to December 23 inclusive.