Despite humble beginnings, the Perth Christmas Lights switch-on has become one of the most popular events in Scotland’s festive calendar.
What was initially a low-key affair for locals soon exploded in popularity in 2013 when The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright was hired to open the show.
Around 90,000 people flocked to the Fair City that year for the switch-on with a swathe of star names being booked in the proceeding years to turn on the lights.
These have included a diverse mix from the world of show-business such as Billy Ocean, James Arthur, Alesha Dixon, East 17, Professor Green, Slade and Basil Brush!
After the switch-on returned following a two-year break we have opened DC Thomson’s archives to look back at some of the brightest moments from the past decade.
Mark Wright wows the crowds in 2013
It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas and Jayden Irwin had his face painted by Clare Ollif while they waited for Mark Wright to light up Perth back in 2013.
The TOWIE star had been brought in as part of the regeneration of Perth’s Christmas Lights which followed 2012’s event when the Red Hot Chilli Pipers were star guests.
The move was not without controversy.
Wright was being paid £7,000 plus flights and travel for an hour’s work!
At the time, regeneration projects team leader Alan Graham, defended the policy and said hiring well-known celebrities would drive footfall to the Fair City.
He said: “The Christmas lights switch-on event has been greatly enhanced since 2012.
“It is seen as a key feature of the Perth Winter Festival, which in turn is a new approach to branding and promoting a range of events in the city over the winter months.
“The enhanced festival could be a way to reinforce the message that ‘Christmas starts in Perth’.”
He was right.
Despite the row that the council was given by critics over the star’s fee, the event was a success story which brought nearly 30,000 visitors into the city centre.
The local economy had a boost of £1.5 million, some of which they soon invested back into the following year’s event.
The ball was rolling and more big names would follow.
Peter Andre in Perth
Tens of thousands of people descended on Perth for the switch-on in 2014 where the headline act was Mysterious girl singer and reality-TV megastar Peter Andre.
Crowds waited for hours to catch a glimpse of Andre who was suited and booted before taking to the main stage on Tay Street after a brilliant burst of fireworks.
The Australian singer performed several songs from his back catalogue including Mysterious Girl alongside tracks from his brand-new album White Christmas.
Sleigh bells weren’t the only thing ringing that evening however.
Andre also found time to crash a wedding as he congratulated newlyweds Carrie and Rod Lucas after they stepped out of the Royal George Hotel to watch the fireworks.
Andre then proved he was a man of the people as he took time to sign autographs and pose for pictures with his Perth fans before being swept away to a waiting taxi.
His appearance is still one of the most popular in the event’s history.
Billy Ocean’s Perth debut
Superstar singer Billy Ocean brought suited-up soul, pop and R&B to Perth in 2015.
For a man who had done it all in the world of music this was a first.
“It’ll be my first time at a Christmas lights switch-on,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to it because I love this time of year, when all the family gets together and that’s how I’ll be spending it this year – surrounded by my loved ones.”
Ocean wore a white scarf to shrug off the chill before blasting out some of his biggest hits on stage including When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going.
He said: “Playing venues in Scotland is fantastic.
“The audiences are always such great crowds and have the loudest voices ever!”
Can you spot anyone you know in 2016?
Glam rockers Slade – whose music is synonymous with the festive season – and hip hop star Professor Green headlined Perth’s Christmas party in 2016.
They were joined by 1980s kids TV legend Basil Brush!
X-Factor runner-up Fleur East, fresh from signing for Simon Cowell, also performed that evening after the festive parade made its way down Perth High Street.
The performances followed a full day of entertainment in the city centre, which included more live music, reindeer, huskies and ice skating.
Professor Green, who topped the charts with his INXS-sampling single I Need You Tonight, popped in to a Fair City chip shop after his performance.
The rapper enjoyed some battered grub at The Fish and Chip Co which was washed down with Irn-Bru and owner Michael Clark refused to charge the £28 bill.
The star agreed to pose for pictures with both staff and customers.
Michael said: “He was such a gentleman.
“The shop was really busy at the time and all the customers loved him.”
The day attracted 112,000 people into the city centre and £1.6m to the local economy.
Scotland’s Christmas capital in 2017
Perth was crowned Scotland’s Christmas capital in 2017 when it hosted the country’s biggest lights switch-on celebration with Alesha Dixon the star guest.
Dixon was seen as appealing to all ages as a former contestant, and later judge, on Strictly Come Dancing.
She managed to get everyone dancing.
Other acts include East 17, Mud and Boyzlife as well as street entertainment.
A chocolate and gin festival was taking place on the High Street, along with fairground rides, ice sculptures, food stalls and street performers on the surrounding streets.
Camels, stilt walkers and even a life-size snow globe also got in on the act.
One of the biggest cheers of the night was reserved for 90s pop heroes East 17 who performed a string of hits including 1994 Christmas chart-topper Stay Another Day.
A Christmas classic performed at the new home of Christmas.
Bigger and better with Pixie Lott
The organisers were determined to go bigger and better for 2018.
Three stages were built in Tay Street to house the wide range of performers who had signed up for the event including chart stars James Arthur and Pixie Lott.
TV presenter Stephen Mulhern was also on hand to join in the fun.
Lott attended the parade prior to the lights switch on and waved to fans as it made its way down South Street before she took to the stage to perform her hits.
Arthur later turned on the lights with the help of Provost Dennis Melloy following his performance before fireworks brought a dazzling end to the festive show.
Retailers were also singing afterwards and highlighted the economic boost generated by the event which was the centrepiece of the council’s Winter Festival.
Jingling tills all round.
Two days of festive celebrations
Stephen Mulhern and (ahem) Basil Brush returned to the stage in 2019.
Pop group Atomic Kitten were the headline act this time around and they were joined at the big bash by Alice DJ, Dario G and Scottish singer songwriter Nina Nesbitt.
Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton and Liz McClarnon soaked up the atmosphere earlier in the day as they joined the parade before the party got started.
The biggest cheer of the night was for local girl Lily Douglas who switched on the lights after being chosen for the top job following a very popular public campaign.
Lily, who sadly died aged 14 this year following a cancer battle, was already a familiar face to many thanks to her own fundraising and described it as a “dream come true”.
The late youngster’s superstar appearance back in 2019 remains unforgettable.
Mulhern returns
The lights were turned off in the Fair City for two years because of the pandemic.
The popular event returned on November 19 with Stephen Mulhern back as host and it was the German dance act Cascada who lit up the main stage for 2022.
The group, who reached international fame with song Everytime We Touch, comprised Natalie Horler, Yann Peifer and Manuel Reuter.
Other performers included The UK Rock Show, Lorraine Crosby Heaven and Hell Show, The Jersey Beats, Beats of Brazil, Mud and Amy in The House.
Provost Xander McDade was joined on stage by Santa to switch on the lights.
Now that the event is back up and running the big question is which star names will be chosen next to follow in the celeb-footsteps first trod by Mark Wright back in 2013?
Who would you like to see on stage in 2023?
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