The 2006 Nairn Community Celebrations Project is gearing up to provide another unforgettable evening on Friday 1 December, when the winter lights will be switched on and  the centre of Nairn transformed into Never Never Land with Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up making a special appearance.  And if you believe hard enough in fairies, Tinker Bell may even fly over the High Street!

Building on last year’s phenomenally successful lantern and samba band procession which marked the start of the festive celebrations in Nairn, this year’s procession involves over 300 young people costumed as North American Indians, Pirates, Lost Boys, Tinker Bells, a giant clock swallowing croc and the dastardly Captain Hook.

Inspire, the new young persons’ group set up after last year’s success and its parent organisation, the Nairn Children’s Art Club have once again employed professional arts practitioners to run community and school workshops in drumming, brass, costume and giant portable effigies.

Support for the event comes from Highland 2007 and Leader + with additional support for the aerial aspects being offered by HIE Inverness and East Highland and Las Plant, which has provided a 60 tonne crane by way of sponsorship.

The Project has also gained the support of the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, who own the copyright and who have kindly given permission for use of the Peter Pan theme.

Jo Turner, a pupil at Nairn Academy and Chairperson of Inspire explained, “The procession will include music from a specially commissioned street band, giant effigies of the crocodile and Big Ben, colourful costumes…. and if enough people believe in fairies, Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tinker Bell will fly over the High Street.  But for me the highlight of the event must be the moment when Tinker Bell flies because that’ll be me!”

The Project has attracted the services of Scotland’s foremost aerialist Jonothan Campbell, who recently appeared in ‘Finding Neverland’ with Jonny Depp.  Jonothan is training Jo in flying techniques in the lead up to Friday’s performance with safety very much to the fore.  Jo has already been fitted with personal safety harnesses for the aerial sequence.  As Ian Bone, Managing Director of Las Plant said, “This is a unique challenge for us and we’re delighted to be able to help.  Safety is at the heart of what we do and we’re working closely with Jonothan and his aerialists to deliver what’s going to be a spectacular climax to the procession on Nairn High Street.”

This is the second year of the project which is aimed at young people in Nairn developing their event management and performance skills in the lead up to Highland 2007, the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture.

Fiona Hampton, director of Highland 2007, said: “We are delighted that this three year project is going from strength to strength.  This year’s event sounds like it will be really spectacular and well worth attending.”

Not to be outdone, the business community has become involved too, with local shops staying open late and staff dressing in Edwardian costumes hoping to ‘hook’ the prize for the best dressed window in the street, which will be judged by members of Nairn Camera Club who are capturing the whole process and event on camera.

The procession begins just at 6pm with the official winter lights switch on at 6.30pm before the spectacular climax at Rosebank Square at around 6.50pm.  So bring the children along and be prepared to hiss and boo, laugh and cheer. 

And how do you get there on December 1st?  Why, “second to the right and straight on till morning” of course!

For more information, contact Alastair McDonald on 0781 303 7883