MORE details have been revealed about Saturday’s Countdown to Christmas event in Newport city centre.

Running from noon until 5.30pm, Countdown to Christmas will feature music, fairground rides, celebrity guests and cartoon characters. It will finish with the official switching on of Newport’s extended city centre Christmas lights and a fireworks display.

With the South Wales Argus as media partner, the event is organised by the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Newport City Council and Friars Walk.

A spokesman for Newport NOW (BID) said: “Pop duo Into The Ark, runners-up on the TV talent show The Voice, will be the headline musical act on stage during the day, and today the full line-up of other acts who will be on stage has been announced.”

Acts on stage from noon to 2pm will be:

• Noon-12.15pm Pete Pork

• 12.20pm-12.35pm Ben Yendle and Selena Jerome

• 12.40pm-12.55pm Ilona Held

• 1pm-1.15pm X Factor contestant Russell Jones Jr

• 1.20pm-1.35pm To Bear Sir

• 1.40pm-1.55pm Shimai

From 2pm, Capital FM breakfast show presenter Polly James takes over as the on-stage host for the rest of the event.

• 2pm-2.20pm Amazing Grace choir

• 2.30pm-2.55pm Oxbowlake

• 3.05pm-3.30pm Tobias Robertson

• 3.40pm-4.05pm Special musical guest

• 4.35pm-5.05pm Into The Ark

After Into The Ark have completed their set, a special celebrity guest will join Newport Mayor David Fouweather on stage to switch on the city centre’s Christmas lights. A firework display will start from the roof of the Kingsway car park at 5.30pm.

Newport Now BID manager Kevin Ward said: “There is one more musical act to be announced as well as the identity of the mystery celebrity guest who will be pressing the button to switch on the Christmas lights with the Mayor. These final two secrets will be revealed on Wednesday.”