Santa Claus put on a gift-wrapped show in Fort William to usher in the Lochaber Rotary Club’s ninth annual Christmas Festival.
Accompanied by his little helpers, Jack Sprague from Roybridge and Maria Sutherland from Upper Achintore, Santa and the team of Cairngorm reindeer left Cameron Square at 11am on Saturday and paraded along the town’s High Street, led by the pipe band and the Ben Nevis Allstars and watched by hundreds of spectators.
The elves were picked from a Lochaber-wide poetry competition, which received more than 80 entries from primary school pupils.
Local firm, Ferguson Transport and Shipping, funded the whole cost of the reindeer and chose the winning poems.
The jolly fat man and his entourage ended their trip at the Nevis Centre where the rotary club had organised a 75-stall craft and food produce market together with a Santa’s Grotto, Buskers’ Corner, hot chestnut stand and bouncy castle.
Club president Paula Ross said: “It was a fantastic day with a real festive atmosphere. The feedback from the stallholders was positive.
“The Lochaber public showed their support for the event with their feet – with people travelling in from Ardnamurchan, Kinlochleven, Mallaig and Invergarry as well as Fort William and the local area. The raffle alone raised more than £1,500 and, at one stage in the early afternoon, the main hall was packed.
“We estimated that almost 3,000 people attended and it also had a beneficial effect on the town’s High Street. It was probably our best festival ever.”
She added: “I would like to emphasise that the profit from this event will be used in its entirety for local charities and good causes.
“Because all rotarians give their time voluntarily, we have no administrative or other overheads, so the public can be assured that every penny raised will be directed to worthwhile local projects and organisations and other causes meriting our support.
“Finally, I would like to thank the generous year-on-year support from the terrific Lochaber public.”