Scores of festive revellers gathered in a Highland village on Saturday to usher in the season with a Christmas lights switch-on.
Kiltarlity Village Hall was decked out with decorations as more than 300 people packed in to celebrate with carols and a brass band.
Due to the poor weather towards the end of the week, the organisers were forced to move all the planned events indoors – but this failed to dampen spirits and the guests rose to the occasion with a rousing party atmosphere.
Further adding to the winter wonderland was the Salvation Army Band, who played a string of festive favourites while members of local churches lent their voices to a series of carols.
The celebrations continued when Santa stopped by to visit around 140 local children, ready to receive their wish lists for the items they want him to drop off when he squeezes down their chimneys to fill their stockings on Christmas Eve.
He also made sure all of the youngsters left with smiles on their faces by giving them each an early present in the form of a chocolate selection box.
Willie Matheson, who organised the celebration as part of Kiltarlity Community Events, said: “This is the third year we’ve done this and everybody had a really good time.
“And that’s what it’s all about at Christmas time – if you can’t make people happy, there’s no point getting out of bed in the morning.”
Outside the village hall, there will be no doubt about Kiltarlity’s festive cheer this year.
Even those just driving through will be entertained by the village’s brightly-coloured Christmas tree and illuminations adorning its main thoroughfare.
Twenty of its street lamps have been decked out with lights in various shape of iconic Yuletide items including snowmen, bells, snowflakes and lanterns.
Mr Matheson added: “There has been a lot of effort from everyone in our wee village to get it all to work, and it has all been a huge success.”
