Dunkeld and Birnam Santa Day is set to make Highland Perthshire buzz with excitement on Saturday.
The villages beside the A9 have a big programme of events to make Father Christmas stop his sleigh and hear the requests of hundreds of kids who will get tickets to visit his grotto.
Santa and his reindeer will be making their appearance after two years’ break and small businesses and community groups will take stalls at the event in Dunkeld ’s centre, The Cross and in nearby St Ninian’s Gardens from 11am-4pm.
The big moment that children can join in with is the Santa Sleigh and Reindeer Parade which leaves at 1pm from the Birnam Hotel and arrives in the Cross at 1.30pm.
With stiltwalkers and jugglers mixing with the crowd, and face painters ready to do a design, it will be a great opportunity for a family day out in the most Christmassy place in Perthshire.
From 10.30am until 12.15pm, and again in the afternoon until 4pm, Santa will be in his grotto in The Drill Hall.
A visit to meet him is free but a ticket system will be in place so get signed up at the Santa Day stall on arrival for a time later in the day.
At 10.30am in the Birnam Institute there will be a puppet show. Tickets for this cost £5 and are available by calling 01350 727674 or book online at birnamarts.com
At 12.45pm ‘Just Singing’ in the Birnam Hotel will perform a selection of songs.
Traditional festive music will be played by Perthshire Brass until 3pm in The Cross, Dunkeld.
“We will also have a different version of the ‘Hunt the Elf’ competition for children to take part in at 11am,” explained event secretary Gillian MacEwan.
“We will have ‘The Best Dressed Pet and Owner’ competition judged at 3pm. We want you to dress up your pets in their Christmas finery and also we would like to see your best Christmas jumper.
“There is lots happening on Santa Day and we look forward to seeing you there. You can find us on our Facebook page Dunkeld and Birnam Santa Day.”
