Christmas has officially arrived in Cumnock, or at least the festive spirit has, if the calendar full of Christmas events unveiled by Dumfries House is anything to go by.
The seasonal schedule ranges from appearances by Santa Claus himself and an estate present trail for children to magical candlelit tours, banquets and entertainment evenings for those wishing to immerse themselves in the seasonally-decorated grandeur of Prince Charles’ stately home.
Father Christmas will dust off his sled for an extra-early flight to the town on Sunday, November 28, where, on arrival, he will be given a rousing welcome by families lining the Visitor Centre car park.
He will be resident in Santa’s Grotto, adjacent to the estate’s Coach House Café, that day and on weekends throughout December, when, for £6 per person, families can enjoy a little bit of festive magic, with mulled wine, hot and cold drinks, mince pies, and a gift from Santa for his special younger visitors.
Sheila Gregory, events manager at Dumfries House, said: “Christmas at Dumfries House is always spectacular and we are looking forward to welcoming guests back this year. Our events are always incredibly popular with the local community and we also see people travelling from across Scotland to enjoy the festive cheer.
“This year we have a number of exciting events planned - from our Musical Soiree with entertainment from Musichoir Ayrshire to our Christmas tours with delicious festive feasts in our Library. There’s nothing quite like seeing the house lit by candlelight while it’s dressed for Christmas.”
From Sunday, November 28 until Wednesday, December 22 a free treasure hunt will take place in the estate’s Rothesay Garden. Santa’s Present Trail will start from the main car park and follow a woodland walk, where children can search for Santa’s lost parcels by looking out for the clues.
Within Dumfries House itself, a Christmas Candlelit Tour, priced £25.95 per person, offers Prosecco on arrival in the Entrance Hall, followed by a special Christmas-themed candlelit tour and then coffee and homemade mince pies served in the Library.
Bookings for all the events here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here