Inverness Christmas Lights

The Highland Council has announced details of the programme for this year’s City of Inverness Christmas Lights Switch On Ceremony which will take place on Thursday 24th November.

After a five year absence during which the event has been held at various locations around the City, the event is to make a welcome return to its traditional home on the steps of Inverness Town House.

Arrangements have been made for a 90 minute road closure to be in operation on the night to enable families to gather in Bridge Street and the High Street from 6.30pm to watch the ceremony.

The Bang on Boogie Band and the Nairn Academy Pipes and Drums will be playing in the High Street before local DJ Andi Stephen hosts the pre- switch on entertainment which will start as soon as the road closures start at 6.30pm.

This year’s event promises to be one of the most colourful ever with Inverness based historical dance group Danse Ecosse performing 15th and 16th Century dances outside the Town House.

Using research based on original manuscripts, the group has built up a pleasing repertoire of medieval, Tudor and Stuart dances that have been delighting audiences at events across Scotland. The sight of the group performing in costumes of the period outside the Town House is sure to be memorable.

Members of the cast of this year’s Eden Court Christmas pantomime Sinbad, which is being staged in a Big Top in the Northern Meeting Park while the redevelopment of the theatre is underway, will then join in the fun before everyone starts looking to the skies hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa. The Sinbad cast includes Lee Scott as Sinbad, Lucia Rovardi as the Princess, Iain Gouck as the Dame and her Silly Son, Derek McGhie.

As usual the exact details of Santa’s arrival are being kept a closely guarded secret by Reindeer Traffic Control at Inverness Airport but it is thought that Santa is expected to arrive near one of the Town House chimney’s around 6.50pm.

After a quick slide down one of the many Town House Chimneys, Santa will then join Provost William Smith on the Town House steps to greet the crowd and start the countdown for the Christmas Lights and Riverlights to come on at 7pm.

Drivers are reminded that the following roads in Inverness will be closed from 6.30pm to 8pm Bridge Street, High Street, Castle Street and Castle Wynd.