Grantown will do Christmas with plenty of events on offer
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Grantown has launched its programme of festive events aimed at bringing more shoppers into the town thanks to an innovative deal with its new local whisky producer.
Community leaders in the Strathspey capital have teamed up with Gordon & MacPhail, the Elgin-based firm that is building a new distillery, The Cairn, at nearby Craggan.
The December programme is the first to be held under a three-year deal which involves the company providing match funding anything raised by the community – up to a maximum of £8000 each year.
One of the festive highlights is Grantown Does Christmas, when businesses and cafes will open throughout the weekend of December 4 and 5 to promote local shopping.
The Gordon & MacPhail team will join in these celebrations with tastings of their Benromach and Red Door Gin brands at an outdoor market in The Square.
There will also be a chance to meet some of the team who will be running the new distillery.
Karen Martin, of the Grantown Initiative, said: “This is the second year of Grantown Does Christmas and we’re hoping to build on the fantastic success of last year’s event which aimed to boost the town last year during the pandemic.
“We’re delighted to have the support of Gordon & MacPhail and are excited that they are joining us to meet residents and visitors. The match funding scheme has been crucial in organising our festive events this year.
“All the businesses are looking forward to showcasing their wonderful products and service and showing what makes Grantown so special.”
Ewen Mackintosh, managing director of Gordon & MacPhail, said: “It’s wonderful to see Grantown Does Christmas return for a second year even bigger and better than before.
“We’re particularly glad to be attending the event ourselves this year when we hope to introduce the local community to some of our team.
“We’ve been very pleased with the welcome we’ve received in Grantown and we have been keen to support local events such as this, through our new partnership scheme with Grantown Initiative.
“We’re hugely impressed by the amount of matched funding the community has already raised which is a real achievement for the town.
“We hope Grantown Does Christmas will be the start of a number of events we are supporting through the partnership and we look forward to Summer 2022 when we will be able to welcome people to The Cairn.”
Grantown Does Christmas will also feature an arts and crafts market at the local museum as well as community fundraising stalls.
Santa will arrive on one of the town’s fire appliances to take up his spot in a grotto in The Square. The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd will also accompany him.
Aviemore-based radio station, Speysound, will broadcast from The Square on Sunday, marking the end of a marathon broadcast by its presenter Cath Wright.
She aims to complete 35 hours non-stop on the radio – breaking last year’s effort of 30 hours and ending as the Grantown Does Christmas event finishes.
St Columba’s Episcopal Church will also hold its annual Christmas tree festival at the local YM Community Centre during Grantown Does Christmas.
In its fourth year, schools, community groups and businesses are challenged to decorate a Christmas tree in whatever way they wish and around 30 entries have been received.
The festive programme continues on December 23, when the town’s traditional Torchlight Procession will be held.
Plans are also under way for a fundraising concert in the town on December 30 and the town’s traditional Hogmanay celebrations will return on December 31.
Cancelled last year due to Covid restrictions, the event will include a street party in The Square, along with the town’s spectacular fireworks.
