More than 30 market stalls planned for Wick Fun Day
Organisers of Wick Fun Day are promising a full set of market stalls in the town centre at the end of this month as the Christmas lights are switched on.
Claire Mackenzie, chairperson of Wick Christmas Lights Committee, gave an update on the festive preparations at a meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council.
“We have 33 pitches, plus our own, plus four trade trucks,” she said. “There is not one stitch of room left in that Market Square, so we’re even bigger than last year.
“Any help for erecting stalls in the morning would be greatly appreciated [from 8am]. Even if we got the numbers that we got last year, because it went up in no time, it would be great.”
Wick Fun Day is on Saturday, November 30, with a children’s umbrella parade from the riverside at around 3.15pm and the switch-on at 4pm with Santa in attendance.
Mrs Mackenzie told community councillors that it is “busy, busy at Christmas headquarters”.
The annual prize bingo is on Tuesday, November 12, at 7.30pm in Harper’s bar and function suite.
The Christmas lights will be put up on Sunday, November 24, from 6am.
Dates for Santa’s sleigh rides around the town have still to be confirmed.
“We’re not lighting up the Rosebank [Playing Fields] this year because we found so much hassle last year as the ground was so wet,” Mrs Mackenzie explained.
“I still want lights around the fence to make it bonny.”
Speaking afterwards, Mrs Mackenzie said she was delighted with the level of interest from market stall holders.
“It’s up there as one of the biggest markets in the north and I couldn’t be prouder to be involved with organising it,” she said.
Mrs Mackenzie has been leading the Wick Christmas Lights Committee, a subgroup of the community council, for 10 years.
“At this time of year every year I have a little meltdown and go, ‘I’m never doing this again!’ But I love it,” she said.
“I enjoy the fundraising side of things and I enjoy the pride of doing an event. I’ve done it for a number of years now.”
A crowd estimated at more than 1000 turned out for the switch-on of the Christmas lights last year, when new lights worth £13,000 brightened up the town.
