Dates have been finalised for four of the main council supported events for 2015.
The hugely popular annual fireworks display will take place actually on bonfire night, November 5, and the fireworks are to be set off from a barge moored in Douglas bay.
High tides are scheduled in the early evening on bonfire night itself as well as on the evenings immediately before and after, which would make it impossible to set up the display on the beach.
The ceremonial switching on of the Christmas illuminations will take place this year on November 26 from beside the town hall in Ridgeway Street, as usual. The date leaves four clear Thursdays for late night shopping in the capital. Councillors noted to have the ceremony a week later on December 3 would have meant the fourth Thursday night was actually Christmas eve, so late night shopping would not be possible. Precise details about the location and entertainment to be laid on for the evening are to be finalised nearer the time.
The council will also be supporting Remembrance Sunday which this year is on November 8, as well as Armistice Day which is on Wednesday November 11.
A report prepared for the council looked into the possibility of not holding a Christmas lights ceremony or firework display on the grounds of cost and health and safety implications. However councillors unanimously agreed all four events should be supported with finer details to be planned in due course.