For the second year running, Living Lerwick have worked in partnership with SIC, Northwards and Northlink to re-instate the popular big Norwegian Christmas tree at the Market Cross.
Two Christmas trees have always been gifted to Shetland as a gesture of goodwill from Norway to commemorate the Shetland Bus. These trees are erected in Scalloway and Whalsay. Until 2012, when the Council had to implement major budget savings, extra trees were bought and erected for Lerwick by the SIC, including the tree at the Market Cross.
Gary Bain, Chair at Living Lerwick said: “It’s clear everyone wants a tree at the Market Cross. Buying, transporting, erecting and decorating a large Christmas tree is hugely expensive, so we had to look at how to provide that without blowing our budget.
Working in partnership, we have managed to find a solution which benefits everyone. Northwards and Northlink have transported all three trees from Aberdeen for us free of charge and Shetland Islands Council Roads Department have erected our one at the Market Cross. Living Lerwick are decorating the tree.”
Plans for the Living Lerwick Magical Christmas Light Switch-on event are well underway. It will begin with the Christmas light switch-on parade at 3.30pm on Saturday 26th November. The parade will start at Victoria pier, where Santa will arrive by Lifeboat. The bairns from Peerie Foxes will switch on the Christmas lights with their wands as the parade progresses through the town centre. The parade will end at the Market Cross with the switching on of the Christmas tree lights.