A four-year-old girl will transform Elgin into a sparkling winter wonderland as the town enters the Christmas spirit today.
Little Emily Birnie, who is Greenwards Primary School’s youngest pupil, has been tasked with illuminating the centre’s spectacular fairy lights display.
The youngster is “over the moon” at the honour, which will cap off a day of yuletide celebrations in Moray’s biggest town.
The festive fun has been arranged by the Elgin Business Improvement District (Bid) group, which hopes to attract thousands into the town.
Elgin Bid manager, Gill Neill, said Emily had been selected to switch on the lights because she wanted the day to be about the town’s children.
She added: “We always try to be very community focussed, and get schools involved.
“Greenwards put Emily forward to help, and it is adorable to see how delighted she is about her big moment.”
Youngsters will parade along High Street from 11am, and Santa and his reindeer will visit the town between 2pm and 4pm.
Miss Great Britain winner, Ursula Carlton, will visit to help residents get into the festive mood.
Last year, £50,000 worth of new lights were bought to brighten up Elgin during the season of goodwill.
But the town will look more Christmassy than ever this December, as even more decorations have been purchased to light up areas that went without in years prior.
It will begin to look a lot like Christmas elsewhere across the region too, as other towns and villages stage their own switch-on events.
Soap opera fans will flock to Lossiemouth to see Hollyoaks actor Kieron Richardson illuminate the town’s lights.
Mr Richardson has played Ste Hay since 2007, and has also appeared in Heartbeat and Holby City.
The lights will be turned on between 6pm and 6.15pm.
Keith’s Christmas Lights Extravaganza will take place at Longmore Hall from 2pm to 4pm, when the decorations will be lit up.
Children in Forres will mark the day by parading along the town’s High Street, before the lights are switched on at 5pm.
On Thursday night, Cullen residents welcomed the festive period by staging a fireworks display in conjunction with the lighting of the village’s Christmas decorations.