Aberdeen’s Christmas lights are to be switched on this Sunday (20th November) with a festive themed parade.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron, will get the festivities underway, with Santas on scooters setting off just after 5.15pm followed by the Charlie House Santa Fun Run on Union Street at 5.25pm.
The main parade will then head out at 5.30pm from Albyn Place to Castlegate.
The parade will feature over 38 different familiar festive favourites, including:
- Santa and Rudolph;
- Giant nutcracker stilt walkers;
- Festive characters on segways;
- Panto characters from the various shows happening in Aberdeen;
- Festive floats;
- Music performances from Rock Choir and Aberdeen Churches Together;
- Local charities, including Home Start, NSPCC and Guide dogs for the Blind, and;
- Sports groups and community organisations led by the Grampian and District Pipes and Drums.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron, will also be travelling in a unique festive carriage this year.
The Lord Provost said: “The Christmas lights help transform the city centre each year and get us all in the festive spirit.
“This is the first year the parade has been able to go ahead since 2019 and it is wonderful to bring back this popular event and bring some festive cheer to the people of Aberdeen.”
The Christmas Tree, positioned at the Castlegate, will also be lit up during the parade and is a 35-foot Norwegian Tree, is gifted every year by Aberdeen’s twin city Stavanger in Norway.
Various parking restrictions and road closures will be in place for the Christmas lights parade:
Between 6pm on Saturday (19 November) and 7pm on Sunday (20 November), there will no parking on Albyn Place between Albyn Grove and Alford Place, except for vehicles associated with the Christmas lights event;
On Sunday (20 November) from 5pm to 7pm, the ban on right turns from King Street onto West North Street will be temporarily suspended, as well as the ban on right turns from Union Street onto Bridge Street and right turns from Holburn Street onto Willowbank Road.
Albyn Place will be closed on Sunday (20 November) between its junctions with Alford Grove and Holburn Junction from 4pm to 6pm.
The full length of Union Street, Castle Street and King Street corridor will also be closed from 5pm and 7pm between Holburn Street and East North Street on Sunday (20 November).
Alternative routes will be available.
The lights switch-on parade is just one of several events happening in Aberdeen during the festive period. To find out what else is happening, visit our website.