Callander prepares for big festive switch-on with more than £20k raised

More than £22,000 has been raised towards spreading festive cheer in Callander this year as the town gears up for the big switch on.

The town goes all out each year to transform into a winter wonderland. And this year is no different as they get set to extend the traditional lights along the main route through the town.

Final preparations are being made for the switch on of the new lights. Following many positive comments about the lights in Ancaster Square last year, the organisers - Richard and Mary Johnson - are planning to extend the lights all along Main Street this year.

The lights in Ancaster Square have all been renewed and will be hung around the trees and buildings in the Square.

The Christmas tree will again be the centrepiece in the Square and there will also be six new artificial trees with lights on.

Along Main Street, there will be wraparound lighting braids on each of the 30 lamp-posts - from Station Road to Bracklinn Road. BEAR Scotland has been contracted to upgrade all of the lamp-posts so that the lights can be safely connected and a specialist company will install the lights.

A switch-on festival will be held on Saturday, November 30, with a parade led by two alpacas and Santa’s Sleigh leaving the Medical Centre at 3.30pm.

Richard said: “All of the children in the parade will be given a lantern to carry along to Ancaster Square where Callander Brass will be playing Christmas carols. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served and there will be a stall with popcorn and candyfloss and one of the new artificial trees will become a Memorial Tree where people can hang baubles in memory of loved ones.”

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Fundraising for the new lights started in the summer and so far the total raised is £22,000. Grants totalling £17,000 have been secured from local organisations, a scheme to ‘sponsor a lamp-post’ has raised £4,000 and crowd-funding has raised the final £1,000.

Richard added: “Residents and business owners in the community have been very supportive and we now have an army of volunteers ready to help with putting up the lights and helping at the switch-on event. We would like to thank everyone who has helped.”