Inverness Christmas Lights Switch On

The Countdown to Christmas in the Highland Capital officially gets underway on Sunday evening (November 18th) when Santa flies into town to help Provost Helen Carmichael turn on the Christmas Lights Display in Inverness City Centre.

Families are asked to make their way to Crown Primary School from 5pm to buy their torches and take their places behind Santa and Provost Helen Carmichael and the members of the City of Inverness Senior and Youth Pipe Bands; who will be bringing smiles to everyone’s faces by once again competing amongst themselves to see who can be the most outrageously decorated.

The Torchlight Procession will depart from the school at 5.45pm and will travel down Stephens Brae to the High Street escorted by a number of mascots including Woody and Buzz Lightyear from “Toy Story” who will be paying their first visit to the event.

After arriving in the High Street the children will be invited to help Santa turn on the Christmas Lights with a series of boisterous countdowns led by Host Nicola McAlley of STV. After each of the sections has twinkled into life, the members of the procession will gather outside Inverness Town House where they will get their first glimpse of the colourful lighting scheme that was recently installed during the building’s refurbishment.

After the Christmas and Town House lights are switched on, Santa and the Provost will then join families for the traditional Christmas carol service “Ding Dong Merrily Old High” which will start at 6.30pm in the Old High Church.

Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group Member Councillor Bet McAllister said:  “The Christmas Lights Torchlight Procession is one of the most popular events in our Winter Festival programme for the younger members of our community and we are looking forward to creating something really magical for them to enjoy”.