Johnstone Christmas Lights Switch-On (Saturday 2 December)

Date: Saturday 2 December 2023

Time: 1pm – 5pm

Venue: Houstoun Square, Johnstone

Johnstone’s Houstoun Square will be turned in to a winter wonderland this year as the town’s Christmas lights are switched on.

The St Vincent’s Hospice Christmas Market will be back in the square to help everyone get started on their Christmas shopping and Santa will be in his grotto to meet all the local boys and girls.

There will be a funfair on site to keep the thrill seekers busy, and there will be additional free activities on offer for all the family as part of #YouDecideJohnstone – due to be announced in the coming weeks.

At 5pm the community will come together at the bandstand as Provost Cameron and her local Christmas Card Competition winner light up Johnstone for the Christmas period.

What would you like to see as part of Johnstone Christmas Lights Switch-On?

Last month we asked for your thoughts and ideas on the Johnstone Christmas Lights Switch On event and over 200 of you submitted your suggestions. Now we’ve taken all your ideas and shortlisted a selection of activities we can realistically run as part of the event.

We have a £5,000 budget ringfenced to be spend only on programming options for the light switch on. Please read through the options and make your choices. Your choices should add up to an amount of roughly £5,000 in total (an allowance for £500 extra can be made).

You can fill out the survey here – #YouDecideJohnstone Christmas Lights Survey

The options chosen will not be the only activity taking place, and further programme announcements will be made soon.

The options available to vote for are:

• Free family activities at Station Seven
• Local established music acts to play on the bandstand
• Street entertainers to spread festive cheer
• Giant snow globe
• Silent disco
• Festive face painting, glitter tattoos and balloon modelling
• Additional festive theming in Houstoun Square

Please submit your votes by Wednesday 1 November 2023.