Largs Yuletide brought Christmas spirit to community

The Santa's parade in the town centre started off the late night shopping extravaganza as hundreds of people braved the bitterly cold temperatures to turn out.

Children across Largs joined Santa in the parade (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Youngsters wrapped up warm for the event this week (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Mickey and Minnie visited families in the area on the night (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Largs Events pulled out all the stops for the festive event, with a children's ride, outdoor entertainment from Karen Aitchison School of Dance, Largs BB Pipe Band and the Brisbane Evangelical Choir.

The Brisbane Evangelical Choir were singing Christmas carols (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

The choir put on quite a performance to bring Christmas joy (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

There were Main Street stalls from Clyde Coast and Cumbraes Men's Shed to raffles to win amazing prizes. There were plenty of shops in the town centre opened late for residents to make a head start on their Christmas shopping.

The volunteers from the Cancer Research shop certainly felt the Christmas spirit (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

The parade travelled through Main Street in Largs (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

And Santa was kind enough to make a brief stop in the town at his grotto in Nardinis to visit all the children of Largs on his nice list.

There were smiles all round from families in the area (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Santa's sleigh could not be missed by the crowd (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Children from community groups joined the parade with Santa (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

For the past week, he had travelled through the streets of Skelmorlie, Largs, Fairlie and West Kilbride on his sleigh to pay a fleeting visit to all the children before his big visit later this month.

A 'Starlight Stage' was erected in Aitken Street and a Children's Yuletide mascot treasure hunt also took place.

The event took place on Wednesday (December 6) (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Toddlers were excited to get a sneak peek of Santa (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Many families in Largs turned out for the Christmas event (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

The Largs firefighters were also out in force to support the event and assist with public safety by having chats with the community and offering advice.

Main Street was filled with Christmas decorations as the pipe band made their way down (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Even pooches in Largs put on their Christmas jumpers (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Largs Yuletide was hailed as a huge success (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Reporter's experience

And as my first Yuletide experience since joining the Largs News in September, I have to say it was truly spectacular despite the frosty temperatures.

I felt the Christmas joy as I watched Santa travel through Main Street on his sleigh followed by the young people of Largs from community organisations such as the Brownies, Karen Aitchison's School of Dance and the Pipe Band.

There were charities and raffles during the event (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

The Clyde Coast and Cumbrae Men's Shed had their own stall (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

There were 10 mascots throughout the evening (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

In the background, there were Christmas songs sung by a carol and a real sense of festive buzz as I made my way round to Aitken Street where laughter could be heard from the children's ride and wholesome performances on the stage.

I ended the wonderful night with a warm chicken burrito and a cup of delicious hot chocolate kindly gifted by Steve from the Largs Church of Nazarene.