Newburgh’s famous ‘wonky’ Christmas lights will be switched on this weekend.
The Fife town melted hearts across the world after pictures shared on Twitter went viral in 2020.
A local group brings children’s drawings to life each year by making them into lights to hang in the main street.
Among the favourites are a Christmas turkey, a three-legged reindeer and a dinosaur with a star on its head.
A gingerbread man and a rainbow wearing a Santa hat also feature in the unusual collection.
And there is a penguin, a polar bear and a Christmas tree.
Newburgh Action Group sets an annual competition, challenging youngsters to design a light.
The winning design is then picked and made into lights by Ladybank specialist Blachere Illuminations.
Last year, two drawings were chosen to make up for 2020’s cancellation due to Covid restrictions.
And this year’s winner will be unveiled at a special switch-on event on Saturday.
Newburgh Christmas lights Twitter storm
Previous winners often turn up for the unveiling and stand beside their own light as they are lit.
The idea became famous after the 2020 Twitter storm.
Newburgh woman Poppy McKenzie-Smith described the lights as “delightfully wonky”.
Our village Christmas lights are designed by the local primary kids and they are the single best thing about the festive season. pic.twitter.com/kDhfLk3Dcb
— Poppy McKenzie Smith (@GTOpoppy) November 16, 2020
And she said they were the “single best thing about the festive season”.
Poppy, who does PR for Lindores Abbey Distillery, said her favourite was a Christmas reindeer.
‘A great day for Newburgh’
The 4pm switch-on will be performed by this year’s winner.
And Santa will make a special guest appearance, travelling up the High Street in his sleigh just before the event.
Lynsey Adams of Newburgh Action Group said the town’s light switch-on was on the same day as Perth’s this year.
But she urged as many locals as possible to support them.
“We usually try to do it on a different weekend to Perth but we’re unfortunately on the same date this year,” she said.
“We’d really like to see people stay local, even if they come to ours and then go to Perth afterwards.
“It’s a big deal for the young people and a great day for Newburgh.”
Conversation