It's all going to shine in Nairn on Thurs November 5th as Festival of Light details revealed in press release

A SHINE press release

SHINE, a Festival of Light, will be held on Thursday 5th November on the playing fields at Nairn Academy. This new community event, led by staff and pupils at Nairn Academy, hopes to bring members of the local community together to bring in the start of winter by celebrating the work and talent of young people. 

The event will begin with a lantern procession, led by local Nursery, Primary and Secondary School pupils, leaving from Rosebank Primary School car park at 6.15pm up to a bonfire on the playing fields at Nairn Academy. Live music from schools and local groups, visual demonstrations, children’s activities, fun rides and a variety of food stalls will be available on location from 6.45pm.

The emphasis on visual elements will contribute towards a calm, inclusive event for children with varying levels of needs. Lanterns, a bonfire, a suspended illuminated logo, projections of pupil animations and stimulating lighting in and around the marquee will all contribute towards visual stimulation. A generous donation from Nairn Rotary Club has allowed specialist equipment to be hired to project animations onto the school building. 

Staff and senior pupils from Nairn Academy have attended Auldearn, Cawdor, Millbank and Rosebank Primary Schools as well as local nurseries over the past few weeks to lead workshops in creating hand held lanterns which will be carried by each school pupil who takes part in the procession. Larger individual lanterns have been made and decorated to represent each school. Local street band, Penguin Tuxedo, will add to the feeling of carnival by leading the procession.

Elements of the event will be environmentally friendly; pupils are applying creative designs to used plastic water bottles, which they have been asked to bring to school. Members of the public are being encouraged to embrace the ‘green theme’ by walking to the event and taking part in the procession at 6.15pm. For people driving some distance, the main parking will be in the Farmers’ Showfield with a mini bus shuttle service running for those with walking difficulties. Disabled parking will be available in Nairn Academy car park on Duncan Drive.

The entertainment begins at 6.45pm on the playing fields. There will be a variety of live music in the Music Tent including Nairn Academy pupil Marc Britovsek, the Wind Band, the String Ensemble, various Choirs and the Steel Band. Toe-tapping ceilidh music will be provided by the Feis Nairn Youth Ceilidh Band and Champin’ At The Bit then Highland based singer/songwriters Niven & Gavin will share some of their many musical influences with an exciting finale. There will be several children’s fun rides, water zorbing, rodeo bull and face painting. For the more energetic, Nairn Academy Sports Leaders will be running sports activities on the all-weather pitch. 

A selection of food vendors will be in attendance with teas and coffees organised by Nairn Academy’s Parent Council, who have also very kindly sponsored aspects of the event. Nairn Academy is also very grateful to Nairn Rotary Club who will be providing marshals for the lantern procession as well as looking after the bonfire. As public safety is a main focus of the event, S3 First Aid pupils at Nairn Academy have been discussing safety and accident prevention in class and will provide assistance to the First Aiders on the night. We look forward to welcoming as many members of the local community to join us for what we hope will become an annual event for the local area.