Published Date: Oct 20th, 2021
Families from across Dunfermline and Fife will be delighted to know that Christmas will this year be kicked off but a visit from Santa and his reindeer. Santa will lead a parade down to the City Chambers where a traditional countdown will lead up to this year's lights being switched on.
A series of events will take place on Sunday 21 November.
The party will begin at 2 p.m. with the annual “Santa Dash” organised by The Rotary Club of Dunfermline who are promoting the event. Any enquiries should be made with them. The Dash is a fun event which has attracted around 50-80 people in the past. It will start at Marks and Spencer and finish at the Louise Carnegie Gates. Thereafter, the participants continued with a 5K run through Pittencrieff Park.
Kingdom FM will be broadcasting from their Roadshow trailer from 2 p.m. to cover the Santa Dash. They will be entertaining the crowds in the High Street from the grassed area in front of the bus station until 5.30 pm
At 4.30 pm, Santa in his sleigh with the Reindeer Parade will go from East Port along the High Street right down to Pittencrieff Park gates to give children plenty of distance to see them.
This all leads up to the traditional gathering at the City Chambers for the Countdown to the Lights Switch On at 5 p.m. From the 1st Floor balcony Provost Jim Leishman accompanied by Area Convener, Councillor Helen Law, will address the crowds, conduct the traditional Countdown, and flip the switch for this year’s beautiful lights and the start of Christmas in Dunfermline.
Provost Jim Leishman said “It's really important that we make this a family-friendly, exciting event for the children. Being able to bring the Cairngorm Reindeer and Santa's Sleigh here for the first time after many years will bring much-needed excitement to the evening. We're all children at heart, and this will be an occasion for everyone to come and enjoy.”
Councillor Helen Law said “Life may not have returned to normal, and it would be difficult to arrange the big parade we would have liked, but I know the children will be excited to see Santa with his reindeer and sleigh. There may even be some surprise guests with Santa. I’d like to thank the Rotary Club and Kingdon FM for their support in making this an enjoyable occasion. I would also thank Blacherre who lit up our town with a great display of Christmas lights year after year.
"We need to continue to support our Dunfermline town centre businesses, now more than ever. So, enjoy the festivities and celebrate all that Dunfermline has to offer.”
Drivers should note that in order to make this a safe, traffic-free environment for families to come and enjoy the day, the High Street, Bridge Street and Abbot Street will be CLOSED to all traffic from Noon to 6.30 p.m.