Copyright inverness-courier
The city’s Christmas lights are set to be switched on with entertainment from a Highland sensation. Highland Hospice has announced Ullapool accordion and singing sensation RuMac will perform at its festive light switch-on event, taking place in the city’s Falcon Square on Sunday, November 23 at 4pm. Working in partnership with Eastgate Shopping Centre, Highland Hospice will provide a variety of entertainment, topped by RuMac, before lighting the Hospice’s Christmas tree and city centre displays at approximately 4.30pm. Highland Hospice fundraiser Carrie Macdonald said: “We are grateful to be working with Eastgate Shopping Centre to provide festive fun for all the family before the lights switch on. “It’s amazing to have RuMac with us, and we can’t wait to see him perform. “He’s a real Highland superstar whose music is known and loved by many. “This has been a great year for him, having gained national recognition through competing in ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and his appearance in Danny Boyle’s ‘28 Years Later’ which was released to critical acclaim. “We will also be joined by See Chelle’s fabulous ‘Wicked’ characters Glinda and Elphaba; and the event is hosted by Nicola McAlley who will introduce Santa himself to turn the lights on! We hope people of all ages will come to join us and experience some festive magic.” The lights switch-on rounds off a special day for Eastgate where Moray Markets will be trading between 9am and 5pm. Cairngorm Reindeer will be in Falcon Square between 11am and 2pm and there will be a Santa parade from the High Street at 1.30pm. The Eastgate Santa’s Grotto will be open and free face painting will be on offer between 12pm and 4pm. Sarah Purdie, marketing manager at Eastgate Centre, added: “We are absolutely delighted to partner with Highland Hospice for their festive light switch-on in Falcon Square. “It’s such a wonderful way to kick off the festive season, and we can’t wait for everyone to enjoy the entertainment, especially the fantastic RuMac! We encourage all our shoppers and families to join in the festive fun and help support the brilliant work the Hospice does for our community." The Falcon Square Christmas tree is one of two situated in Inverness as part of the Hospice’s annual ‘Light up the Highlands’ campaign - the second will be situated outside Highland Hospice’s Inpatient Unit for patients and visitors to enjoy. ‘Light up the Highlands’ invites people to sponsor a tree light, helping Highland Hospice to be a place of comfort and hope for families who need its care this Christmas. A light can be dedicated specifically in memory of someone who is dearly missed. Carrie added: “Our Falcon Square tree is integral to ‘Light up the Highlands’ where we invite people to take time to pause and show compassion to those having a difficult time around Christmas. “Sponsoring a tree light is an act of kindness – a way of helping the Hospice, remembering someone special, or both. “This is the seventh year that our Christmas tree will be present in Falcon Square and we would like to extend our grateful thanks to Inverness Common Good Fund for supporting the tree, as well as Capstone Construction and Paterson Haulage for putting it up for us. We hope that it brings hope, light and cheer to many over the festives.” Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.
