Thousands of shoppers visited Eden Court at weekend as the festive retail season got underway in Inverness.
Nearly 90 businesses from across the north and north-east took part in a massive three day art, food and craft fair, organised by Black Isle company Exclusively Highlands.
Organiser Isabel Stewart said that they estimated that more than 6,000 people had visited the event on Saturday.
She said that people had travelled from Aberdeen and Perthshire to the Highland capital in order to get ahead with their Christmas shopping.
The Fortrose based organisers have held craft fairs all over the country for a number of years – with the annual Eden Court event usually the biggest of the year.
But the 2014 edition surpassed all expectations with the turnout.
Speaking last night as the fair drew to a close, Ms Stewart said: “It’s been by far the busiest weekend we’ve ever had. I feel almost jet-lagged.
“The standards of goods on sale has been very high, with the food in particular proving very popular.
“We’ve had everything from cakes to cheeses and unusual chutneys and smoked fish.
“There were 88 contributors in total. We don’t charge entry so it’s hard to be exact but we reckon that around 6,000 people visited on Saturday which is amazing.
“Word of mouth is what drives events like this so I’m delighted with how it’s all gone.”
Fiona Logue, director of Craft Scotland, said that the north of Scotland was unique when it came to the crafting industry.
She said: “The resurgence of interest in quality, handmade, locally produced works is evident in events like Exclusively Highlands.
“The Highlands and Islands are home to some of our most recognisable indigenous crafts and today are producing many contemporary makers, attracted by the quality of life and the inspirational landscape amongst other factors which have a reputation at home and abroad.”