LET there be light in Dumfries tonight.
For the town is switching on its Christmas lights – the first in the region to do so and a day ahead of Lockerbie and Newton Stewart.
The switch will be flicked at 6.30 pm but the fun starts at the Plainstanes from 3 pm with performances from dance groups, the Theatre Royal, Road Runner and the Synergy Choir.
There’ll also be children’s choirs from Troqueer and St Andrew’s primary schools, plus the River of Life ‘Kids Church’, in the Loreburne Centre, from 5 pm.
In addition, there will be fairground rides in Queensberry Square and walkabout artists, and Queen of the South FC and Solway Sharks ice hockey players will be inviting people to try their skills.
Meanwhile, event co-ordinator Mark Smith revealed that Dalscone Farm’s donkeys will be there too through the afternoon.
Having the honour of turning on the 2023 lights display will be New Abbey Primary pupil Aria and Kirkbean Primary’s Mylee, who were the winners of a schools’ bauble design competition, Aria (P3) from New Abbey Primary and Mylee (P7) from Kirkbean Primary.
Straight afterwards, Santa and Dumfries Town Band will lead the crowds to launch the Lights of Hope, which will develop during December. The Lights of Hop Torch Procession will enable everyone to bring glowing lights to the Whitesands, recognising that many people find the dark winter nights hard to cope with.
A finale at the Plainstanes, with DJ Connor Nelson will polish the event off with a bang around 7 pm.
