Lanark gets set for busy Christmas events programme

Judith Tonner

12 November 2024 at 7:50 am·2-min read

Lanark will host Christmas markets on High Street throughout the festive season — -Credit: (Image: Contributed/Hamilton Advertiser)

The festive season will officially get underway in Lanark this weekend as the town’s Christmas lights are switched on – kicking off a series of special events.

Lanark will host a Christmas market alongside the lights switch-on this Saturday, November 16, with more than 70 stalls being set up in High Street from 10am to 5.30 pm.

The countdown to the Christmas lights switch-on begins at 2pm with live entertainment including music, games and family fun – before Santa pays a visit at 5pm to light up the town for the Christmas season.

It will be followed by the illuminated Lanimer parade on Friday, November 22, including festive performances plus special late-night seasonal shopping at local shops from 5pm to 8pm.

A Christmas pop-up market will then take place on Saturday, December 7, with more than 30 local artisans and producers running stalls 10am to 3pm.

Organisers say all of the special Christmas shopping events “offer the perfect opportunity to find one-of-a-kind, locally-made gifts in a festive atmosphere”.

Family fun is in store on the following two Saturdays, December 14 and 21, as Santa makes some early visits to Lanark along with his elves and Poppy the cheeky penguin.

He will be at the Tolbooth from 11.30am to 3.30pm for photos, storytelling, crafts and a meet and greet as the town gets set for Christmas; and organisers say the busy programme will help “celebrate the holiday season with exciting events guaranteed to bring joy and festive spirit”.

Discover Lanark manager Antonia Pompa said: “We are thrilled to welcome visitors to our town centre – there’s so much happening this year and the festive spirit will be in full swing, so we hope people will join us in celebrating and shopping local.

“Christmas is a vital time for our traders, and now more than ever, we encourage everyone to support Lanark’s local shops and businesses.”

The town’s festive events are organised and funded by South Lanarkshire Council, Discover Lanark, the Lanimer Committee and other community partners.

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