CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON: ‘Nairn came out in force to enjoy this community celebration’
Hundreds of people attended the annual switching on of Nairn’s Christmas lights at the weekend.
The lights were turned on by five-year-old Georgia Theman from Rosebank Primary School.
Georgia entered a bauble making competition to win the honour and was accompanied by Santa who was the special guest for the day. He arrived at the stage after being escorted along the High Street by Nairn Pipe Band and Nairn Provost Laurie Fraser.
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The Countdown to Christmas event which was organised by Nairn BID featured stage entertainment, a circus skills workshop with Fly Agaric Performing Arts, fire show, and over 60 stalls in two locations.
New for this year was an hourly ceilidh on the Brae with music and support being provided by Dave Godden aka The World’s Smallest Ceilidh Band and Donald Wilson.
The street party also included entertainment with Highland dancers, Bubbles the Clown, and The Sound Guys leading some musical numbers. The Sound Guys were fronted by Ness Factor finalist Jo Turner and although they played a classic festive number by Slade, they also had the crowd dancing to tracks by Foo Fighters, Stevie Wonder and Paulo Nutini.
As well as the entertainment, many of the shops created special offers for the day including The Grapemonger who were selling mulled wine and mince pies and hosted Bella Salon who had a festive pop-up shop, Crafty Wee Birdie who had a hamper for people to win and owner of Strut, Brambles Boutique and Ink & Pink, Georgina Innes, offered 20 per cent off across her boutiques for the weekend.
At the other end of town, The Classroom bistro also had mulled wine on offer as well as festive bowls of pigs in blankets. Other shopkeepers spilled out onto the street to become part of the market including ice cream shop Sprinkles and Vitamin Sea Gift Shop and Printing.
There were a number of charities represented, with Saints Sled Dog Rescue even bringing along four huskies.
As well as the activities in the town centre, there was also a craft market in the Nairn Community & Arts Centre which also featured magic from Jango Starr and face-painting.
Nairn BID manager Lucy Harding said: “It was an absolutely fabulous day and the people of Nairn came out in force to enjoy this community celebration. From the Brae, right up through the town there was something going on all day and we really hope that people enjoyed what was put in place.
“We were delighted to see so many of the businesses getting involved and creating special offers, competitions and working together and people enjoyed what was on offer from the market stalls.”
She added: “We must say thank you to everyone who helped and got involved from the performers on the stage, to Donald Wilson and Dave Godden who did the ceilidh on the Brae, to the library staff who let Santa use their premises for his grotto and to the Scouts who helped him. This event could not go ahead without a huge community effort and we are very grateful to all who got involved.”
