Winter Festival Sparkles Into Life
The Highland Council has announced details of the programme for this year’s Christmas Lights Switch On Ceremony in Inverness, which will officially start the city’s eagerly- anticipated Winter Festival on Thursday (20th November).
The ceremony will centre around a specially constructed stage on the steps of Inverness Town House and arrangements have been made for a road closure to be in operation on the night to enable families to gather from 6.30pm to watch the show.
The ceremony will feature some spectacular animated projections provided by the Evanton-based “Arts in Motion” team. This will give spectators their first glimpse of the city’s new giant Advent Calendar, which will be projected on the walls of Inverness Museum and Art Gallery as part of a show which will transform the front of the Town House and bring it to life.
In the lead up to the Winter Festival, local charities and community groups have been entering their names for a grand draw which will take place just before the lights are switched on. 24 local charities will each receive £100 as a present from The Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee by having their names drawn from the Provost’s hat on the night by 3 year old Nikita Hall and 4 year old Emma Sinclair, who will be assisted by the star of this year’s Eden Court Theatre pantomime “Aladdin”.
The ceremony will have a very traditional musical feel to it with carols being performed by The Inverness Gospel Male Voice Choir, Merkinch-based “Singing for Pleasure” and the Inverness Salvation Army Band. There are also plans to get the audience involved with a special performance of “Away in a Manger”.
Santa is expected to arrive near one of the Town House chimneys around 6.50pm and then join Provost Jimmy Gray on the Town House steps to greet the crowd and start the countdown for the City’s Christmas Lights to sparkle into life at 7pm.
Drivers are reminded that Bridge Street, High Street, Castle Street and Castle Wynd will be closed will be closed from 6.30 pm until 8.00 pm.
The Inverness Winter Festival will last from 20th November to the early hours of January 1st when the Hogmanay Celebrations in Northern Meeting Park Arena come to a close. Full details of the programme can be found at www.invernessfestivals.com
For further information please contact
Gerry Reynolds on 01463 724262 (email: gerry.reynolds@highland.gov.uk)