STIRLING'S annual winter festival is bigger and better than ever before, bringing festive sparkle to the city throughout November and December.

The campaign will showcase Stirling as the perfect place to visit for festive fun, with great shopping, superb eating and drinking, a jam-packed events programme and a spectacular Christmas Lights Switch On, with special guests the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

Councillor Scott Farmer, Leader of Stirling Council, said: “Building on the success of previous years, this year’s festive offering is shaping up to be the most exciting yet, with an outstanding programme of events and free entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.  

“Stirling’s festive celebrations will mark the start of a big year of events for Stirling in 2018, and we have exciting and ambitious plans that will be announced shortly.

“There really is no better place to enjoy this special time of year.”

The festive celebrations officially kick off in Stirling city centre at 2pm on Sunday 19th November, with a range of musical and festive entertainment.  

The city will welcome the return of the Stirling Santa Parade, with Santa and his reindeer outside the Albert Halls at 2.00pm, ready to set off through the city centre, finishing at Santa’s Christmas home inside the Thistles shopping centre.

The Central FM Radio Roadshow will be keeping everybody entertained with festive tunes from the foot of King Street from 2.10pm onwards. 

As well as competitions and giveaways, there will be live performances from a range of different musicians including Alix Muir and Little Mix tribute group - Little Fix, to keep all ages entertained, right up until the big Christmas Lights Switch On at 5.00pm with the fabulous Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who will continue with the entertainment until 5.40pm.

A spokesperson for the Red Hot Chilli Pipers’ said: “This is the Red Hot Chilli Pipers’ 15th Anniversary year and we can’t think of a better place to be than with our friends in Stirling as they switch on their Christmas lights. 

"It’s an honour for us to be asked to do this in such a special year for us. We have always had the most amazing welcome from the people of Stirling on the many occasions we have visited over the past 15 years and we hope to bring some of our world famous Chilli heat to what is likely to be a cold winter’s day. 

"Make sure to come along and ‘Bagrock’ with us on Sunday 19 November when we light up the town.”