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Christmas light switch-on draws big crowds in Nairn


By Donald Wilson

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Lily Saleh, pictured with Santa, won the opportunity to put on the lights.
Lily Saleh, pictured with Santa, won the opportunity to put on the lights.

PEOPLE flocked to Nairn on Saturday for a day of entertainment and shopping capped off by the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights.

Thousands of people attended the event, which was held over two locations, the Town Centre and Nairn Community & Arts Centre.

The lights were switched on by P4 pupil Lily Saleh who won a bauble making competition to secure the honour.

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The event was organised for a third year by Nairn Connects BID and spanned the whole day, incorporating a Santa’s Grotto, street entertainment, a street market and craft fair and performances from various local groups and performers.

Nairn BID also organised a window dressing competition which was won by property centre E2W Property with runners up being clothing boutique Ink & Pink and bistro One One Two On The Brae.

Nairn BID manager Lucy Harding said: “The turn out for the Christmas Lights switch on was phenomenal. A huge thank you to everyone who came along and enjoyed what was put in place and who shopped local. We had great feedback from all of the stallholders, both in the High Street and at the community centre and the local businesses have said that they were busy too.”

Nairn High Street. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Nairn High Street. Picture: James Mackenzie.

She added: “Putting on this event is a huge task but it’s a lot of fun, however we couldn’t do it without support from the local community so a huge thank you to everyone who got involved especially the volunteers and entertainers.

“It was also great to have the Nairn Pipe Band involved and they had the important role of piping Santa to the stage where he turned on the lights with our bauble winner Lily.

“The switching on of the lights is an important annual event and provides an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the beginning of the festive season and Nairn certainly achieved that on Saturday.

“The Nairn BID is here to develop opportunities such as these to encourage people into the town and it was great to see people, many in festive dress coming out to support what we had organised.”

Only one of the Christmas lights switched on at first. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Only one of the Christmas lights switched on at first. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Seeing over the crowd. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Seeing over the crowd. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Kai Logan started the countdown for the Christmas light switch on. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Kai Logan started the countdown for the Christmas light switch on. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Tall elf and angel walking through the crowd. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Tall elf and angel walking through the crowd. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Tall angel walking through the crowd. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Tall angel walking through the crowd. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Local children. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Local children. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Efah Hutcheon and Saffie Hutcheon. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Efah Hutcheon and Saffie Hutcheon. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Nathan Sanderson and Richard Wilkinson, Scotia Medical Group. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Nathan Sanderson and Richard Wilkinson, Scotia Medical Group. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Ava Riach, Sophie McCulloch and Gillian Kles. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Ava Riach, Sophie McCulloch and Gillian Kles. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Havila Mackintosh in a Christmas jumper and kilt. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Havila Mackintosh in a Christmas jumper and kilt. Picture: James Mackenzie.

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