Retailers in Greenock town centre are lining up a night of Christmas fun for shoppers.

Part of West Blackhall Street will be closed to traffic on Thursday 12 December 2019 as festive activities take over from 4 to 8pm.

These will include a ceilidh band, singers, carolers, an alpaca to say hello to, craft and market stalls plus cartoon characters including Peppa Pig, Olaf from Frozen and Chase and Marshall from Paw Patrol. 

West Blackhall Street shops will also be opening until 8pm on Thursday 12 December and Thursday 19 December.

Other activities include a performance by Cedars School of Excellence’s choir from 4.30pm to 5pm, and songs from Stephanie Lavelle and the Clydeside Singers. There will also be a best-dressed Christmas shop window competition and a prize for the best-dressed Christmas residential window in West Blackhall Street.

Another competition is also being run for patrons to make the best Christmas hat which they can display on the night. There is space to make hats this coming Saturday 7 December at 2.30 in the Hearts and Stitches shop at 58 West Blackhall Street.

Mairi Coventry of The Wee Crafty Owl shop in Jamaica Street, commenting on behalf of the organisers, said:

“We want to encourage our community to shop locally over Christmas which will help local enterprises, so many of which are family-run businesses.”

From 8pm to 9pm, there will also be live music from local young musicians in Westend Bar and Kitchen at 121-123 West Blackhall Street, followed by the venue’s ‘Open Mic’ night.

Co-organiser Chris Jewell, owner of Cradle Care in West Blackhall Street and the New Dawn Coffeeshop in Jamaica Street, said

“Things have literally grown arms and legs. Instead of one alpaca we now have four, named Ruairidh, Coll, Angus and Fergus, and we had a lovely time meeting with them and their owners in advance of the event.”

Chris Added:

“We do hope and pray that the weather will be kind to us and that everyone will have a fun filled time while doing some Christmas shopping in the street with many traders opening late until 8pm.”

The activities will take place during 4pm to 8pm with the section of West Blackhall Street from the junction with Jamaica Street and then heading east until the road meets West Stewart Street, closed from 2pm and re-opening at 9pm.

Updates will be posted on the West Black Ho Ho Ho Street Facebook page.