Runner Ian Jones, winner of bronze medals in the 200 and 400 metres in the Paralympic Games in Beijing this summer, will switch on the Christmas lights at Sportcity on Thursday, 13 November.
Joining him at the City of Manchester Stadium will be Danny Robinson, 18, an active member of the local Youth Forum and a keen voluntary worker, and Hedley Carter, of Chariots Office Supplies, who represents local businesses on regeneration groups in the area.
Attractions at the lights switch-on event will also include a fancy dress fun run, children's rides, carol singing and refreshments including mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and mince pies.
The Santa Dash charity fun run will give all the family a chance to dress up and raise money for the Manchester Children's Hospital Appeal.
Everyone is welcome to join in the fun run - and if you can't run, it's OK to jog or walk. There will be prizes for the best fancy dress outfit for those who dress up as Santa, Snow Man, Rudolph or a Fairy. Everyone who takes part will receive a certificate.
The run will follow a safe route round the stadium and it's even suitable for pushchairs. It starts at 5pm and although the organisers are getting lots of people to sign up in advance you'll also be able to enter on the night.
The opening event will take place at the West Entrance to the Stadium, reached through gate 11 off Rowsley Street.
The event is organised by Sportcity and Manchester City FC and is supported by the urban regeneration company New East Manchester. The fun run is being organised free of charge by the not-for-profit company Sport4Life.
Sean McGonigle, Director of Regeneration for New East Manchester, said: "The event to switch on the Christmas lights will offer an enjoyable evening for all the family and the fun run gives people a chance to support a very worthy cause."
John Dwan, managing director of Sport4Life, said: "The fun run has been kept completely free to enter and open to all ages in order to really encourage families and groups of friends to take part and have fun together. We've already held a number of these events elsewhere around the country and they've been really popular. It seems there is a real demand out there for community events that get everyone involved. I've no doubt the turnout at SportCity will be equally impressive."
For more information on the fun run visit http://www.run4funuk.co.uk/ or call 0845 1300849.
For further information on New East Manchester visit http://www.neweastmanchester.com/
MEDIA CONTACT:
Martin Hellewell at New East Manchester, tel 0161 223 1155, ext 2167.