November 26th saw Nairn’s annual Christmas Lights switch on at the culmination of the Countdown to Christmas. The streets were filled with the sights, sounds and smells of the festive season. The fun started at 10am and continued on past 4pm.
Throughout the day everyone was entertained by the antics of the Mad Hatters of Moray, Mrs Bubbles and FlyAgaric.
There was a stage in Castle Square which hosted: Mellow Yellow Adult’s Choir, Dave Godden, The Speldings, Street Struck Dance, The Penguins Tuxedo, Nairn Gaelic Choir, Mellow Yellow Children’s choir, ending with a performance by the Urban Kitchen Utensils from the Classroom with their Christmas single which has been released to support Team Hamish.
After the performances, the Christmas Bauble competition winner, Lily Saleh, switched on the Christmas lights with Santa and the Nairn Pipe Band.
Santa was busy most of the day in his Grotto located in Nairn Library. Nairn Pipe Band saw Santa on his way with a beautiful, musical send off.
Nairn High Street had a plethora of market stalls to choose from, thanks to Inverness Farmers Market and Nairn Crafters and Artists.
The Market stall holders were:
Unravel Tea,
Avva Gin,
Angela McWilliam – Festive Pottery,
Abriachan Nursery,
RNLI,
Sue Fraser – Felted Pictures,
Shanti Naturals,
Rose Cottage Country Kitchen,
Crafty Highlander,
Makes by Megs,
Nairn Rotary Club,
Nairn Bowling Club,
Dog Falls Brewery,
Cawdor House,
Peter Levings – country style crafts and clothing,
Bells Seafood,
Lisa Christie,
Winifrida’s colourful clothing,
Caught on Canvas,
Tarradale Game,
Stitch it and Fix it,
Capaldi’s Ices,
Patisserie Alice,
Iona Findlay,
Strachans,
Highland Boundary,
RSL Potatoes & Kiln dried logs,
C A B,
Healthy Mediterranean Foods,
Highland Yoga Collective
Crafters Corner also featured local crafters and Artists:
Lellyart – Jewellery & Handcrafts,
Woody’s Driftwood,
Claire Dauton – Polymer Jewellery,
Belinda Wallace – Papercrafts,
Claire McPhee – Facepainter,
Sandra Mills – Hand Dyed alpaca wool
Lianne Collinson – Candles and Jewellery,
Rebecca Kesson – Harris Tweed bags,
Anna – Hats, Bags, Dolls,
Gina Mitchell – Bags, Scarves, Blankets, Pictures and Cards,
Linda Walker – Paper Crafts – Cards, Bunting etc,
Emmeline Brown – Handmade Wooden Gifts
The adventure continued from the High Street and Leopold Street along to the Nairn Community and Arts Centre where there was an indoor market in the main hall featuring:
Mini Bakes,
Cawdor Honey/David Vaughan Furniture,
Stave & Stem,
Coast Candle Co,
The Vegan Skinhead,
LewisLassie,
Ashers Bakery,
Moray Firth Coastal Partnership,
Temple Spa Skincare,
Fèis Inbhir Narainn,
Nairn Birder Photography,
Nairn Book & Arts Festival,
Sit back, Relax and Read,
Sandy’s Turning,
Molten Imaginings,
Nairn Museum,
The Barefoot Caster,
Zepice,
Logie School &
Heilan Brew
There were also live performances by:
Mellow Yellow Adult Choir, The Speldings, Dave Godden, Street Struck Dance and the Nairn Gaelic Choir.
It was a great day which marks the beginning of the festive season and the end of a pretty turbulent year – but Nairn still shines with a great community spirit. Happy Christmas from all of us to all of you!