A festive extravaganza for a Highland town’s Christmas lights switch-on has been planned with 12 hours of entertainment being put in place.
Nairn BID has this year taken on the organising of the seaside town’s event and businesses and community groups are being encouraged to get involved.
Branded ‘The 12 Hours of Christmas,’ the event will start at 10am and end with a ceilidh being held in the community centre at night.
The all-day event will boast a craft fayre, street market, choirs, street entertainment, horse carriage rides and of course the all-important switching on of the lights.
Nairn BID manager Janis Maclean said:
“The switching on of the lights is an important event and provides an opportunity for the community to come together.
“However, Nairn Connect BID is here to develop these opportunities and to encourage people into the town so that the businesses can benefit and we believe that what we have created will do just that.”
She added:
“The event will kick off at 10am with a craft fayre in the community centre which is being run by the Scouts.
“Santa will be based there with his grotto and then when that finishes, Santa will make his way to the High Street accompanied by huskies and street performers to continue the festivities there.
“We have mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, horse carriage rides, beautiful stalls and of course we will have entertainment too.
“We are also putting on a band after the lights are switched on so that people can have a mini street party and so that visitors can enjoy all that we have arranged that little bit longer.”
Janis added that she now wants businesses and community groups to think of ways they can get involved:
“We have put the main structure in place but what we want to do now is get the businesses and community on board.
“We have already visited the businesses on the High Street and some have come forward with their own event, but the more that is going on the better.
“There is great scope for the retailers on the High Street in particular to enjoy the day and launch their Christmas shops and ranges.
“If they want to do something specific, then all they need to do is let us know and we will be sure to include it on the event listing on the BID website.
“We ran Taste of Nairn in a similar way and the feedback from those businesses who got involved was really positive, so we are hoping for the same outcome this November.”
The event will take place on November 30 and full details and timings will be available of the Nairn BID website www.nairnconnects.com
