OBAN WINTER FESTIVAL

It is time to unwrap an early Christmas gift this year as Oban Winter Festival brings 10 days of magic to the town. For the ninth year the volunteer committee behind the fantastic event has packed it full of events which run from November 15-24 and tied it with a big bow of extra activities to mark St Andrew’s Day over the weekend of November 30. This year’s theme is Fantasy Frost and Fairy-tales. Oban Phoenix Cinema is showing a sing-along of the movie Frozen and then Frozen 2, plus more. The Glencruitten woods are going to be illuminated again with an adventure for all the family to enjoy including story telling and a night-time trail through the enchanted woods. Remember that access is by mini-bus shuttle only. If you really want a taste of frost and ice you must go along to the snowboard simulator which will be visiting Atlantis Leisure, provided by The Ice Factor, Kinlochleven, home to the world’s biggest ice wall and the Snow Factor Braehead, home of the biggest indoor real snow slope.

The festival officially begins on Friday November 15 and starts with the parade of the Winter Queen as she rides her unicorn through Oban performing her magic and casting spells as she makes her way from Corran Halls at 5pm to travel to Station Square, back along the Esplanade then return to Corran Halls to be joined by the children from Ballet West and officially open the festival and fairground.

The next 10 days will have more than 100 events, including the very popular selection of markets at Oban Distillery, Perle Hotel and Corran Halls, the young entrepreneurs showcase at Oban Distillery and junior entrepreneurs at Oban Chocolate Company.

Thursday November 21 is late night shopping time – look out for the shops with lanterns outside with special discounts and bargains on offer. Some are offering goodie bags to early birds.