Inverness Christmas lights switch on

The countdown to Christmas in the Highland capital officially gets underway on Sunday 20 November as Santa arrives to help Provost Helen Carmichael turn on the Christmas lights display in Inverness city centre.
 
The fun starts at 12 noon when Santa will make his way onto Falcon Square with his reindeer where he will be joined by members of the cast of this year’s Eden Court Pantomime, Dick Whittington. During the afternoon visitors will be able to meet the reindeer, enjoy a programme of live music, visit Santa in his Grotto, and get ready for the evening’s festivities by reporting to the ‘Elf Makeover Station’ where youngsters will be able to create their own elf hat and have their cheeks painted red. 

At 5pm families are then asked to make their way to nearby Crown Primary School where Santa will be joined by the Provost and friends including the Giant Snowmen and STV’s Nicola McAlley who will be hosting a torchlight procession down Stephens Brae to the High Street. 

Funds raised by the sale of £3 torches on the night will this year support MFR’s Cash for Kids. 

After all the marchers are lined up behind the City of Inverness Youth Pipe Band, torches will be lit at 5.45pm and the procession will head for the High Street where the Christmas lights will sparkle into life as the procession passes by at 6pm. The procession will end outside Inverness Town House. 

After the Christmas lights are switched on, Santa and the Provost will lead families down Church Street for a very special carol service “Ding Dong Merrily Old High” which will start at 6.30pm in the Old High Church. Admission to the service is free but donations are welcome for the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) which supports terminally-ill children and their families.