Lockerbie will be the first town in Dumfriesshire to switch on to Christmas with its ceremony tomorrow.
Lantern-making, sponsored by Dryfesdale Church, will run from 1pm until 3.45pm in the upper town hall and is free to join in. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The winners will be announced at 4pm and, following the lantern parade, will turn on the town’s festive lights at 5pm alongside this year’s winner of the Bev Farish Community Person Of The Year Award.
In addition, the High Street will have entertainers and stalls from 2pm and the fun continues until 6pm at the community event, which is being sponsored by Muirhall Energy Ltd.
It is worth noting that the High Street will be closed from noon for setting up.
In partnership with Lockerbie Salvation Army, the Lockerbie Lights Committee is also running a foodbank to support those in need in the community and there will be a drop off point at the shop in Station Square tomorrow for donations of non-perishable items.
Dumfries will officially switch on its Christmas lights in the town centre on Friday, November 25, with the council planning a programme of entertainment at the Plainstanes stage from 4pm.
There will also be festive activities in Queensberry Square and the lights switch on will be at 6.30pm.
Castle Douglas will be full of the festive spirit on Saturday, November 26, with countdown events from noon ahead of the big Christmas switch-on of the town’s lights at 4pm.
Moffat’s Christmas festival and switch on will be from noon to 5pm on Sunday, November 27.
Organiser, Moffat Promotions, will transform the High Street into a thriving street market, complete with children’s rides, craft stalls, festive food and entertainment. Children can visit Santa in his grotto and he’ll be switching on the town’s festive lights at 5pm.
Annan’s Christmas switch-on will take place on Saturday, December 3, with a raft of entertainment and events from noon to 5.30pm at various venues in the town. From 1pm to 4pm, there will be a Christmas craft fayre in the Market Hall and The Magic Juggler, Graham Benson, will be out and about on the High Street.
From 2pm to 4pm, Santa will be at the outdoor market in The Courtyard with a free gift for children and Daffy Dill will also be there to entertain youngsters while they wait.
With no young citizen this year, the Christmas lights will be officially switched on at 5.15pm by community fundraiser John Patterson after a lantern parade from the car park at Gracies Banking – where there will be fairground ride from noon to 5.30pm – to the war memorial.
