It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Inverness

Christmas is definitely coming to Inverness as street by street the festive lights go up.

Highland Hospice's big tree once more has pride of place in Falcon Square next the Eastgate Centre, and now is waiting to be dressed with lights for the big switch on.

And Inverness High Street and Union Street are to be festooned with new "curtains of light" for the festive season.

Workers are currently erecting new sturdy metal posts in the High Street to carry the festive decorations.

David Haas, Inverness City Area Manager said: “As part of the annual festive lights programme funded by the Inverness Common Good Fund, using previously allocated funds, new curtain lighting is being installed within the city centre, in the High Street and Union Street.

"These will add to the regular features put in place for the festive season and are planned to be left in place so that they can be used throughout the year in support of other events.”

The Highland Council is working with Highland Hospice and the Eastgate Centre to support Inverness city businesses and community organisations this year by providing city centre Christmas lights supported by the Inverness Common Good Fund.

The big city centre light up is on Sunday 26 November at 4.30pm when the lights will be switched on by the council’s lighting team to mark the end of a day of activities and events being provided by Eastgate Centre, Highland Hospice, and Culloden Rotary Club.

The climax of the city centre activities will be a short carol service round the Hospice Christmas Tree in Falcon Square and the switching on of the tree lights.

Provost of Inverness and Area Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair said: “I am very pleased that the Inverness Common Good Fund is again able to provide festive lighting in the city centre which helps to promote the city centre as a shopping and visitor destination.

"We greatly appreciate that the business community is working in collaboration with our arrangements to provide the best possible offer to all those attending."

The hospice tree is sponsored by Cairngorm Group and erected and lit with the support of Capstone Construction, Paterson Haulage and the Eastgate Centre.

Chris Kershaw, Eastgate Centre manager said: "The Christmas lights switch-on will finish off a great day in the centre where we have reindeer visiting and our Santa's grotto open to bring some festive cheer to the city."

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