Christmas Light Switch-on Parade
29 November 2015
More than 15,000 people watched a colourful carnival parade today as Aberdeen's Christmas lights were switched on in Union Street.
The event was one of several major festive events happening in the city this weekend including the Trinity Centre Reindeer Parade, the first weekend of the Christmas Village and the first weekend of the pantomime at His Majesty's Theatre.
The popular annual events attract people to the city centre from around Aberdeen and further afield, and added to the festive feel.
The Christmas Lights Switch-On Parade on Union Street included people dressed in costumes depicting the 12 Days of Christmas ranging from a partridge in a pear tree to 12 drummers drumming.
Community groups ranging from schools to drama students took part in the annual event which started at 5.30pm.
The parade is a mixture of people walking and floats, and also includes a nativity float from the regional ecumenical team. Santas on scooters will be leading the parade, followed by Grampian District Pipe Band, Aberdeen Lord Provost George Adam and representatives from the Instant Neighbour Trust in a vintage open-topped car.
Aberdeen Lord Provost George Adam said: "It is always a great event, but this year, it has been even bigger than ever, with the whole of Union Terrace transformed into the Christmas village and the tree taking pride of place at the Castlegate."
Other community groups taking part included Insch Primary School, the Tivoli Theatre panto stars, the Students Environmental Team, Girl Guides, ACT in an open-topped bus, Woodside Community Group, Waste Aware, Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and Granite City Pipes and Drums.
The festive lights strung up across Union Street were lit up as the Parade went down the road, with lights also lit up at the Music Hall and Jamieson & Carry at the same time a confetti cannon was ignited
The Christmas Lights Switch-On Parade is one of 11 events being held as part of the city's Winter Festival which is the biggest-ever event of its kind the city has had - more major events were asked for by residents and businesses during the consultations for the Masterplan.
The curtain also went up this weekend on HMT's spectacular pantomime Peter Pan starring Aberdeen's own panto queen Elaine C Smith and her irrepressible co-conspirators in mayhem Alan McHugh and Jordan Young as Dame Maggie Celeste and Smee.
Her spell-binding role of the Magical Mermaid gave Elaine the chance to dazzle once again with a multitude of other – sometimes unexpected – characters.
Elaine, Alan and Jordan shared the stage with Scott Fletcher as Peter Pan, John Jack as Captain Hook, Maggie Lynne as Wendy, Lisa Lynch as Tinkerbell and Gillian Parkhouse as Tiger Lily, as well as local lads Logan Reid (10), Henry Ronaldson (12), Aedan Dufton (8) and Christopher Tawse (7) who are sharing the roles of Michael and John Darling,
The show is being staged by the same team behind the theatre's last eight Box Office-busting pantomimes, with lavish sets, fabulous costumes, and an abundance of comedy.