A special Christmas event is set to show that community spirit is still strong in Falkirk despite a difficult year.
The Community Pavilion in Slamannan is hosting the special event to switch on the Christmas tree lights on Saturday, December 4.
They are promising a celebrity singer – although their identity is still under wraps – as well as a choir and a DJ to entertain everyone at the village’s war memorial square.
Earlier in the day, there will also be a Christmas Market in the community centre – with 20 stalls confirmed – as well as food and, of course, Santa’s Grotto, although visits have to be pre-booked.
There will also be a ‘Bake-Off’ competition, while Slamannan Primary School pupils have been challenged to write a “Christmas Number One” – either song or poem – which the winner will perform on the day of the event.
This is the second year that the Community Pavilion has organised such an event and while last year’s was much smaller, it was a great success.
“It was fantastic – given the pandemic and everything that was going on, it gave everybody something to be involved in and be part of the community,” said Claire Mackie.
She and Fiona Gordon set up the Community Pavilion as a food bank as part of Falkirk’s Forgotten Villages’ campaign to end fuel poverty in villages that have no mains gas.
The extortionate heating bills for hundreds of Falkirk Council tenants and Scottish Power customers meant that many families faced an impossible choice between heating and feeding their families.
But the response to the Community Pavilion showed that even during the pandemic, the community spirit was as strong as ever.
“It’s not just a food bank now, it’s more of a community group,” said Claire.
And they are really looking forward to the December event, which will welcome all Upper Braes residents.
“It’s really just giving back because not everyone can afford the same Christmas as others, so we’ve just tried to make it that everyone is getting to enjoy it,” said Claire.
“We have something for all ages – it’s really just things that will bring everyone together, for everyone to be involved in.”
Social distancing will be adhered to and the event has the approval of Police Scotland.
If regulations change there is a back-up plan and the event will be held virtually.
The Christmas Market will be at the community centre from 1.30 - 4pm, while the lights switch-on will be from 4.30 - 6.30pm.
