Festive goat joins winter parade
A GOAT wearing a festive jumper and winter snacks such as roasted chestnuts and warm mince pies are set to feature at this weekend’s Living Lerwick Christmas lights switch-on parade.
Connor the goat from local shop Love From Shetland – which sells soap made from goat’s milk – will make an appearance at the event on Saturday afternoon.
Commercial Street eatery Island Larder will also be on hand to provide food, while Aurora Gifts – as well as Love From Shetland – will offer customers a 10 per cent discount.
The parade is due to take place at 3.30pm from Thulecraft, with Santa first starting at 3.15pm from Albert Wharf before joining the festivities.
The Christmas tree lights at the Market Cross will be turned on with help from children from the Peerie Foxes nursery.
Living Lerwick will hope things go better than last year after the Christmas tree’s lights were dubbed the “worst in the country” and received attention in the national media before being changed.
Director Steve Mathieson said the parade – which will also feature the town’s Up Helly Aa squad and the isles’ brass band – will have something for everyone.
“In Shetland we like to be a little bit different and I think our Christmas parade reflects that,” he said.
“We use it to celebrate our young folk, our culture and our independent nature. Where else could you find a parade running through a street full of independent businesses with Santa, a goat, lots of hairy Vikings and nursery bairns taking centre stage?”
Commercial Street will be closed to all traffic between 2pm and 5pm, while delays can be expected on the Esplanade from 3pm to 4.30pm.
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