People from across Nairn are being encouraged to get involved in this year’s Countdown to Christmas event which will incorporate the town’s Christmas lights switch on.
A special call is being made to businesses and children to get involved in the event with each group being given their own special ways of partaking in the celebration.
Children have been invited by Nairn BID, which is organising the event on November 30, to make a Christmas decoration to be in with a chance of turning on the lights accompanied by Father Christmas.
Meanwhile, businesses in Nairn are being called upon to decorate their windows and shop fronts to ensure the town is a winter wonderland for the big day and to take a stall, spill out onto the street or create a special festive offer for the day.
The event which will run from 10am will incorporate two markets, the chance to ceilidh dance on the Brae, stage entertainment, a Santa’s grotto, ponies, huskies, a circus skills workshop and fire show.
Lucy Harding, manager of Nairn BID said:
“We are very excited about this year’s Countdown to Christmas event and hope that the whole community gets involved.
“There is a jam-packed schedule with something on from the minute Santa officially opens the event at 10am till the lights go on at 4pm preceded by the Nairn Pipe Band.
“This year there will be entertainment in place from the Brae, right along the High Street, up to Academical Square and along Leopold Street.
“As well as the festive fun on the High Street, there is also an indoor market in the Nairn Community & Arts Centre too.”
Nairn BID works with local businesses and the community with the aim of making Nairn a great place to visit and shop and maintaining it as an attractive place to do business.
Last year’s Christmas event attracted 8500 people which was a nine per cent increase on the previous year.
The recent Wheels of Nairn event was attended by nearly 9000 people which was an increase of six per cent on the 2023 event with 73 per cent of visitors saying they would return to Nairn at another time due to having been to the show.
“The data shows that the events do drive footfall to the town,” said Lucy, “with increased footfall, it’s a great opportunity for the businesses to get involved and showcase what they have on offer.
“Nairn has an abundance of great shops, businesses and boutiques so there really is no need to look any further than our great town for all your Christmas gifts and essentials.”
Children entering the bauble competition must submit their entries to the Nairn Community & Arts Centre by November 28.
“The Christmas decoration competition is always popular and it’s great to see all the creations from the kids,” explained Lucy.
“The bauble competition really is a big deal as by entering you are getting the chance to help Santa switch the town’s Christmas lights on at 4pm.
“Make sure any entries are clearly labelled with a name and contact details.
“All the entries will be put into a Santa’s hat and a winner chosen at random.”
Full details and timings of the event schedule will be available on the Nairn BID website www.nairnconnects.com