Carols will ring out across the North Sea in a Montrose seafront Christmas Eve celebration which will also herald in a special first for the town.
Since its opening in 2011, tearoom Mums of Montrose had been hosting Christmas Eve carolling, but the venue will switch from Castle Place to Auntie’s Parlour in the seafront Traill Pavilion on Christmas Eve.
Montrose Town Band will again provide the music, with 88-year-old Jim Easton the popular group’s bandmaster for six decades leading the players.
Businesswoman Jane Watson, who took over the running of the art deco pavilion at the end of the summer, said she hopes the event will excite locals in the lead up to the festivities and provide a positive springboard for 2016.
The takeover of the 1913 bequest from entrepreneur John and David Traill was not without controversy, but Jane said people have been delighted with the new lease of life the building has been given and there is real excitement at the thought of hot chocolate, mince pies and singing along with the town band with the waves rolling in just feet away.
“This is something that has never happened in the history of the pavilion, it has usually been left locked up all through the autumn and winter months often right into spring but, no more,” said Jane.
“It is being enjoyed by walkers new and old who are totally surprised and delighted to use the services now on offer throughout the year.”
She has set up a meeting in mid-January with Angus Council’s tourist adviser along and a VisitScotland representative to develop future plans to put Montrose more firmly back on the map.
The carol service takes place from 5pm.
In another festive first for the town, volunteers are busy preparing for a Montrose community Christmas Day lunch.
It will take place at the Murray Street YMCA from 11.30am to 1.30pm and organisers have been “overwhelmed” by the response to the idea.
Katie Baxter, who put on a similar lunch in Arbroath a few years ago, contacted Montrose YM manager Val Cooper with the idea and in just a few weeks it has really taken off.
Val said: “It is really exciting and something that has just struck a chord.
“People have been coming in with food, biscuits and everything else and others have been giving us money to buy things for it. It’s by the community for the community and it fits exactly with our ethos here at the YM.
“Katie and her friends will be running it on Christmas Day and I am sure it will be a great thing for the community, a real feelgood thing,” said Val.