Penicuik is gearing up to host its largest Christmas light switch on event to date this Friday.
Midlothian Council has been putting the finishing touches to the town’s Christmas decorations before the community comes together on Friday 2 December for the annual switch on of the festive illuminations.
For the first year, organisation of the annual switch on event has been managed by the Penicuik First Business Improvement District. The move allows the event to be held on the same day as the monthly Friday market, which, it is hoped, will provide the town with a full programme events from 10am to 7:30pm.
The day of celebrations will commence at 10am with the opening of the festive market in Penicuik’s Shopping Precinct and High Street. Choirs of local children from Mauricewood, Cornbank, Cuiken and Sacred Heart Primary Schools will serenade the morning’s shoppers. The usual array of stallholders will be onsite offering locally produced or unique gifts and other produce. There will also be hot food offerings.
Penicuik’s High Street is also boasting new illuminations for the season. These were funded by local businesses through the BID levy and will see the 18th century shopping thoroughfare sparkle for the Christmas period. A new Christmas tree has been placed at the junction of John Street and High Street too.
Edward Linton-Smith, co-ordinator for the Penicuik First BID told us:
After seeing the Penicuik Market go from strength to strength since it started 18 months ago, we thought that the opportunity to combine the special Christmas Market with the switch-on event of the newly-installed festive lighting along the High Street was too perfect to miss! We’ll be making the festive lighting bigger, better and brighter every year, and we’ve worked hard to make sure the market itself keeps building, too. We’ve installed anchors in the precinct, so it will take place as planned whatever the weather. Santa will be giving out gifts and accepting Christmas lists in his grotto, while pipe bands, silver bands, choirs and other performers provide the festive soundtrack! There will be a puppet show and a special appearance from Tam the donkey, too much to mention in one sitting!
Penicuik’s Citizen of the Year Vic Ramage will turn on the Christmas lights at 7pm.
The annual community Christmas fair, which is operated by the Penicuik and District Community Council, will be hosted of Saturday 3 December from 10am to 2pm in Penicuik Town Hall.