Festive celebrations are returning to their former glory in a Lanarkshire town this weekend.
Lanark 's Christmas lights switch-on event takes place on Saturday, November 19, as thousands are expected to turn out for the occasion.
It is sure to be cracker with lots of fun activities lined up throughout the day for locals young and old to enjoy.
And this year's celebrations will see Lanark back to its past splendour after two years of scaled-down Christmas lights switch-on events in the town due to Covid.
The day kicks off at 10am and will be packed with lots of exciting things to do including the return of the hugely-popular Lanark Christmas Market.
Locals and visitors alike are encouraged to enjoy browsing their favourite festive stalls selling everything from food and drink to clothes and toys, where local stores will also be open for some Christmas shopping.
And at 5pm, Santa Claus will be in town to begin the countdown before he switches on the town's Christmas lights.
As the afternoon draws to a close, you can see Lanark's festive decorations light up and the Christmas tree illuminated with its sparkly lights and decorations, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lanark.
The event is organised by South Lanarkshire Council and is supported by the town's local Business Improvement District (BID) group discover Lanark.
Their message this year is to encourage locals and visitors to support the town and spend local during the festive season.
It's set to be a huge boost for trading in Lanark this Christmas with a far greater turnout expected than the previous two years during the pandemic.
Antonia Pompa, BID Manager at Discover Lanark told Lanarkshire Live : “We are really looking forward to Saturday and to welcoming visitors to our town centre.
"Christmas is a crucial time of year for the town’s traders and this year the town’s shops and businesses need our support more than ever.
"My message to everyone is to shop in Lanark, support your local businesses and enjoy a fabulous run up to Christmas.”
Throughout the day, the town's shops, cafes and eateries promise a warm welcome to those visiting Lanark and there's plenty of fantastic free entertainment lined up during the afternoon to keep the kids happy too, organisers say.
And the festive cheer doesn't stop there. On Friday, November 25, Lanark opens its Winter Wonderland with an evening of late night shopping and colourful entertainment from 5pm to 8pm.
It's followed by a sparkling Illuminated Lanimer Parade at 6.30pm. Plenty of seasonal entertainment will be on display as well as appearances by Santa and his Elves
The Winter Wonderland is then open daily from 10am to 6pm all the way through until December 28.
Visiting is free, and you can enjoy the magical scenes outside Tolbooth Lanark and join in with their new singing reindeer.
Santa and his Elves will continue making special appearances between 11am and 3pm on Saturdays of December 3, 10 and 17.
You can find out more about Lanark's Christmas celebrations during the festive season here.
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