THE annual West Kilbride Yuletide celebrations will take place on Friday, December 1, from 6pm–9pm.

Starting things off with a bang, local resident, George Donohoe will be letting off fireworks to mark the beginning of Santa’s Yuletide parade.

Santa Claus and his reindeer will lead the parade through the town centre, starting from West Kilbride Train Station at 6pm and finishing at the Village Hall.

This year one lucky child will get the chance to lead the parade and sit beside Santa in his reindeer drawn sleigh. Look out for the competition on our Facebook page (facebook.com/westkilbrideyuletide).

Live music is from SumwumminDrummin and dancers from West Kilbride’s new dance school The Dance Depot will be joining in the fun too.

If you wish to join the parade, please meet at the train station at around 5.30pm. The first 50 arrivals will get a free glow stick! Please wear something festive or bring along a torch, a lightup toy or jingle bells, and enjoy the joyful festive atmosphere.

There will be a £25 cash prize for the most Christmassy outfit! So, don’t forget to throw on some tinsel, reindeer ears, Christmas jumpers, Santa hats or anything else Christmassy you can find!

The winner will be selected at the end of the parade. The reindeer are returning once more, so come along and meet them they will have a petting corner set up outside The Village Hall on Ritchie Street.

Santa’s Grotto will be based at the Village Hall for this very special Yuletide event, where children can meet Santa for a small entrance fee. The Village Hall will also have traditional fair games, refreshments and stalls inside, including special guests and Yuletide sponsors, The Waterside Inn.

Christmas shoppers will have the opportunity to enjoy a spot of late night Christmas shopping, while soaking up the festive atmosphere and being treated to Christmas music from West Kilbride Village Band and Dreghorn and Irvine Brass Band.

There will be lots of festive activities happening at West Kilbride Parish Church, West Kilbride Library and The Barony Centre, plus a fun fair.