Perth lights already on ahead of Christmas 'party' weekend

dailyrecord.co.uk:

People will flock to Perth this weekend for a celebration to mark the Christmas Lights Switch On - despite them already being lit up.The lights were unofficially turned on in November and this weekend’s event is instead being marketed as a Perth Christmas Lights Party on Saturday, December 2 with a St Andrew’s Day Celebration on Sunday, December 3.The Fair City’s countdown to Christmas launches this weekend and city centre councillors believe waiting until Advent was the “correct decision”.Acts including Boney M and N Trance will take to the Tay Street stage on Saturday with Skerryvore and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers providing some Scottish entertainment for the St Andrew’s Day Celebration on Sunday.In recent years the lights have been officially switched on in November.

This year Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) decided to wait until December.It will mark the start of three weekends of Christmas celebrations in Perth and December 2 will be the first of four Saturdays of free bus travel across Perth and Kinross.A PKC spokesperson said: “There was also feedback from businesses they’d prefer it to be closer to Christmas.”The spokesperson added: “Saturday marks the start of three weekends of Christmas celebrations in Perth.“The Christmas Lights Party is a chance for families to enjoy free entertainment in Perth city centre, including a short fireworks display at 6.20pm, and performances by acts including Boney M and N Trance while St Andrew’s Day Celebrations take place on Sunday.“The festivities over the three weekends also coincide with our free bus travel offer across Perth and Kinross, helping people attend these events during the Cost of Living crisis in an affordable and sustainable way, as well as bringing people into