Campbeltown’s 2024 winter weekend was a Christmas cracker

The bumper parade featured floats by the following: Kintyre Schools Pipe Band, Campbeltown Rainbows, Auchencorvie Sawmill, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited Fire Service, McFadyens Transport, NHS Highland, Royal Mail, Argyll and Bute Council Fleet Support, Scottish Water, Jewson, Campbeltown Lifeboat Station, Tesco, Co-op, Campbeltown Fire Station, Campbeltown Coastguard Station, Campbeltown Police Station, Bartek’s Bistro, Campbeltown Young Farmers, Campbeltown Brownies, Greenwood Centre, West Coast Motors, and Kintyre Hire.

This year’s special guest was Paddington Bear, who stopped off in Campbeltown on his way to Peru, and joined Keelan and crew at the town hall before the countdown and switch-on.

Last but far from least, bringing up the rear of the parade was Santa and his elves, who greeted youngsters inside Campbeltown Town Hall afterwards.

There was also a variety of children’s entertainment in Burnside Square, which kept many youngsters busy while grown ups took advantage of late night shopping in the town centre, with many shops offering discounts and free refreshments. 

The Campbeltown Christmas Lights Group send their heart-felt thanks to the following: pre-switch-on performers Lorna Hume and Hannah Black, each of the parade participants, Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club for the use of a golf cart, Graeme Harvey for being the evening’s MC, elves Maia Mauchline and Cara McFadzean, Santa, Kintyre Larder, Small Things Boutique and Campbeltown Town Hall for power and hosting Santa’s grotto, Argyll Event Hire for providing the children’s entertainment, the evening’s marshals, Kenny Craig and Stuart Pentelow for capturing the evening through photographs, the huge crowd of people who braved the weather to line the streets in their hundreds, Donna Graham and team at the Co-op for providing sweets for Santa’s grotto, Mark Leishman and James Murdoch for sound, Anna Brodie/Paddington, Esther and Andrew Anderson for making Paddington’s coat and hat, Campbeltown Pupils FC for the use of their gazebo, Argyll Signs for sponsorship signs, RDS Forestry for the town’s tree and Derek Robertson and P McKerral and Co for transportation, and all the shops and businesses that stayed open late, with a massive thank you going to all of the businesses that donated towards the cost of the new lights.

A spokesperson added: “What a night! Campbeltown, you really are the best Wee Toon! What an atmosphere – we just wish we could bottle all that.”

The weekend’s festive fun was far from over on Friday, with Explore Campbeltown’s annual Christmas market held at Springbank Distillery on Sunday.

The distillery’s lower malt barns were packed with more than 50 stalls featuring a wide range of goods provided by local crafters, shops and businesses. 

Upstairs, hot food and drinks were available from the café area next to a children’s entertainment zone and Santa’s Grotto, where Father Christmas once again spent hours meeting and chatting to the town’s youngsters. 

Among the furthest travelled people to enjoy the weekend’s events were Cathy Cliffe, Kerry Marshall and Jo Basey, who came all the way from Leicester specifically for the festivities, which they described as “wonderful”.

The ladies have been coming to Campbeltown regularly for the past few years but this was their first time here for the Christmas lights switch-on and market. 

“We always enjoy coming up and the toon holds a special place in our hearts with lots of happy memories,” said Cathy. 

“We would like to thank everyone for their efforts with both the lights and the market, and we can’t wait to come back.”