North Berwick to get festive glow as Christmas light switch on event to go virtual

Large public gatherings, such as Christmas light switch-on events, have been cancelled throughout East Lothian due to coronavirus restrictions.

As a result, North Berwick Community Council, which arranges the event and oversees the maintenance of the lights throughout the town through a sub-committee, has decided to host this year’s switch-on virtually.

It takes place on November 28, 4-4.30pm.

A link to the event, which is being shown on YouTube, will be available on the community council’s Facebook page and website (northberwickcommunitycouncil.org.uk).

It will also be available at www.nbresilience.com

The film will not be broadcast live and will include performances from choirs, a piper and others from around the town.

This is in place of the usual event with Santa, gifts and refreshments.

The community council is asking people not to gather outside the Abbey Church on High Street, where the switch-on usually takes place, at the time of the event.

As well as the string of lights across High Street, two trees have seen lights added to them: one at the junction between Dunbar Road and Lochbridge Road, and another at the junction at Dirleton Road and Strathearn Road. A tree at the Lodge Grounds has also been restrung with lights.

The tree on Quality Street, opposite Cucina Amore, was damaged a few weeks ago by a lorry; it is hoped this will be fixed.

Strings of multicoloured lights will shine down on the eastern side of High Street from Quality Street to The Puffin; decorative festive lights on lampposts, trees and at the Lodge Grounds, and festive images projected onto the gable end wall at High Street and Quality Street complete the town’s festive decor.

The lights will be turned on by community council member Ian Watson as a thank you for his years of service to the lights.

Judy Lockhart, community council chair, said: “We believe Christmas lights are more important this year than ever before, both in celebration of Christmas but also as light is often a symbol of hope.

“We will not be able to do our usual collection at the switch-on event in person so are encouraging online donations, which will all be most appreciated.”

People can donate at www.gofundme.com/northberwick christmaslights

Public donations ensure the lights can go up and be maintained every year.

To allow as many people to view the switch-on as possible across the town, once the event has had its initial screening it will be available to watch at any time during the Christmas period through the same link.

A Christmas window display competition is also running once again for shops on High Street, won last year by Turnbull’s Home Hardware.

Judy added: “The High Street shops are doing late-night opening for Christmas, too, on the night of the switch-on and then every Thursday in December, so it will be great if people can come down to see the lights and support our local businesses who continue to experience adverse trading conditions owing to Covid restrictions.”