All you need to know about Aberdeen’s Christmas lights switch-on

Aberdeen’s glittering Christmas lights will be switched on this weekend.

For the time since Covid hit, crowds will line Union Street to watch the spectacle which includes a parade made up of festive characters, such as nutcrackers on stilts, panto characters, choirs, pipe bands and charity volunteers.

Lord Provost David Cameron will get the festivities under way when the Santas on scooters set off just after 5.15pm.

This will be followed by the Charlie House Santa Run on Union Street at 5.25pm.

The main parade will then head out at 5.30pm from Albyn Place to Castlegate and will feature over 38 different 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
• Sports groups and community organisations led by Grampian District Pipes and Drums.

‘The Christmas lights help transform the city centre each year’

Mr Cameron, who will be travelling in a unique festive carriage this year, 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, situated at the Castlegate, will also be lit up during the parade after its switch on was called off last night due to the weather conditions.

A 35ft Norwegian spruce is gifted every year by Aberdeen’s twin city of Stavanger in Norway, and takes pride of place in the Castlegate.

Parking restrictions and road closures in Aberdeen for Christmas lights switch-on

The following parking restrictions and road closures will be in place for the Christmas lights parade:

• Between 6pm on Saturday and 7pm on Sunday, there will no parking on Albyn Place between Albyn Grove and Alford Place, except for vehicles associated with the Christmas lights event.
• From 5pm to 7pm on Sunday, the ban on right turns from King Street onto West North Street will be temporarily suspended, as will 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 between its junctions with Alford Grove and Holburn Junction from 4pm to 6pm.
• The full length of Union Street, Castle Street and the King Street corridor will be closed from 5pm and 7pm between Holburn Street and East North Street on Sunday.