Festive cheer comes to Lerwick with Christmas parade

It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas as excited bairns and shoppers enjoyed a festive procession in Lerwick this afternoon.

Santa swapped his traditional chimney arrival for a lifeboat before beginning the Magical Christmas Light Switch-on Parade from Victoria Pier.

Hundreds lined the streets as little ones from the Peerie Foxes nursery waved their magic wands, with plenty of roars from the Jarl Squad along the way and music from the Lerwick Brass Band.

The parade culminated in a glimmering Christmas tree in the Market Cross as the fairy lights were turned on.

For the second year running, Living Lerwick has worked in partnership with the SIC, haulage firm Northwards and NorthLink Ferries to bring the popular, towring Norwegian Christmas tree to the town.

Many businesses also extended their opening hours for shoppers to start ticking presents off their list.

Christena Irvine, BID manager at Living Lerwick, said it was great to see such a good turn-out.

“It’s absolutely brilliant and it’s really good it’s fine weather,” she said.

The parade was a good way to get everyone into the festive spirit, and as a community event it brought the community together.