Wick Fun Day promises to be 'the biggest yet' as Christmas countdown begins
The countdown to Christmas will begin in Wick with the town's annual Fun Day at the end of this month.
Claire Mackenzie, chairperson of Wick Christmas Lights Committee, says it promises to be “the biggest Fun Day that we've had”.
As well as the switch-on of the lights, a Santa's grotto and an umbrella parade from the riverside, there will be more than 20 stalls in the town centre offering gifts and jewellery along with food and drink.
Mrs Mackenzie gave an update on the festive preparations at this week’s monthly meeting of the local community council, of which the Christmas lights committee is a subgroup.
The lights are due to go up in Bridge Street on Sunday, November 20.
The town's Christmas tree is scheduled to be delivered in the week commencing November 21, ahead of Wick Fun Day on Saturday 26th. The umbrella parade will start at the boating shed at 3.15pm and will make its way to Market Place for the switch-on at 4pm.
Meanwhile, the Christmas lights committee will be hosting a prize bingo in Harper's Bar and Function Suite on Tuesday, November 15, starting at 7pm. Mrs Mackenzie pointed out that the prizes have been on display in the former Blythswood shop thanks to the new owner, John Murray.
Mrs Mackenzie said: “We've had a really good response from local businesses donating prizes for our raffle and bottle stall.”
The following Tuesday (November 22) at 7pm there will be a family Christmas quiz night at the Wick community campus. It will be for teams of up to six people, with refreshments available.
Festive lighting will again be put up in the Rosebank Playing Fields, although this will stop short of being the full-scale Santaland that has been staged previously.
Speaking after Monday's meeting, Mrs Mackenzie explained: "We are going to be lighting up the Rosebank and allowing people to come and see the lights and Santa, although not quite the full Santaland experience.
"As a committee we took the decision to run Santaland biennially due to the effort put in to make it magical, so we are looking forward to that again next year."
Dates have still to be confirmed for the Rosebank lights, and for Santa's sleigh rides through the town.