Destination Helensburgh shares December festive events

Our congratulations and thanks to the Trust for all their hard work ensuring the town is shining brightly and cheering us all up.

Around the villages Christmas trees are brightening up the dark nights and Rhu Community Council is hosting a lights switch-on event on Friday, December 1.

December kicks off with a festive shopping event in Helensburgh on December 2 and 3, with local shops open 11am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

We are so lucky to have so many independent retailers and eateries in the town. A free map showing al the shops and eateries is available at Destination Helensburgh.

Donna and daughter Emily Hicks (Image: Tom Watt)

Please love local and shop local this Christmas – everything you need from festive food to gifts for all the family can be found in the town.

With so many festive events this month, we have tried to arrange them in order - and please remember that a constantly updated calendar of events, with click-through links to events and organisers for tickets and full details, can be found at destinationhelensburgh.org/whats-on/ - or pop into our visitor centre and shop in Sinclair Street, next door to Greggs, for information.

There are also various lectures and other activities to be found on the calendar.

• December 1 - Rhu Village Green lights switch on from 6.30 – Santa’s Grotto, street food and live entertainment on the green and continuing at the Rhu Inn until midnight.
• December 1 - 23 - The Best Dressed Christmas Tree competition, Grasshopper Toys.
• December 1 - Pantomime at Rosneath Caravan Park, 5pm, Cinderella.
• December 1 - Lomond School Christmas Fair, Sports Hall Rhu Road Higher, 6-9pm.
• December 1 - Christmas robins watercolour workshop at The Front Room Gallery, 7pm.
• December 2 and 3 - Festive Shopping Weekend, Helensburgh – extended shop opening hours (11-5 Saturday and Sunday), buskers in the Square and events all over the town and district.
• December 2 (9th if wet) - Nativity in the Square (starring Elise the donkey), 2-2.30pm.
• December 2 – Helensburgh Baptist Church Treasure Hunt and refreshments, 2.30pm.
• December 2 - Artisans Craft Fair, Helensburgh Parish Church, 10-4pm.
• December 2 – Winter Collage workshop at Cove Park (age 5 and above).
• Until December 2 - Percy the Penguin Hunt in Helensburgh shop windows, follow his adventures on Grey Matters social media, entries to Grey Matters with a winner drawn on 9 December.
• December 2 – Parklands Christmas Coffee Morning, United reformed Church, 10.30-12.30.
• December 2 - The Nutcracker dance show, Cove Burgh Hall, 5pm.
• December 2 - Helensburgh Orchestral Society concert, Victoria Halls, 7.30pm.
• Until December 3 - Winter Wonders selling exhibition at the pop up Porch Gallery, Kilcreggan.
• December 2 and 3 – Santa’s Submarine Experience at the Submarine Centre, 11-4pm.
• December 2 - Boozy Brunch and Christmas Day Out at The Civic Centre, from 12 noon.
• December 2 and 3 – Andre Rieu’s White Christmas at The Tower cinema. (Saturday 6.30pm, Sunday 2pm.
• December 2 – 23 - Christmas Windows Trail, Helensburgh – vote for the best windows, organised by Helensburgh Business Group (voting forms at Grasshopper Toys).
• December 2-3 - Christmas Festival at Lomond Shores.
• December 3 – Mrs Claus at The Hill House, from 10am.
• December 3 - Three Villages Christmas Fair, Arrochar, 11-4pm.
• December 3 - Handel’s Messiah, Helensburgh Oratorio Choir, Helensburgh Parish Church, 7.30pm.
• December 4 – Traditional Music Session at the Commodore, 7–9pm.
• December 7 - Christmas wreath making, Cove Burgh Hall.
• December 7 to 9 - Pantomime: Helensburgh Theatre Arts presents Peter Pan at Victoria Halls, Helensburgh Theatre Arts 7.30pm and Saturday matinee 2.30pm.
• December 8 – John Logie Baird Primary School Christmas Fair, 1.15pm.
• December 8 - Dorian Choir Christmas Concert, United Reformed Church, 7.30pm.
• December 9 and 10 - Helensburgh Winter Festival, Colquhoun Square – market, entertainment and events.
• December 9 - Santa Dash 12.30pm Colquhoun Square, organised by Helensburgh Round Table.
• December 9 and 10 – Santa’s Submarine Experience at the Submarine Centre, 11-4pm.
• December 9 – Helensburgh Community Hub Bumper Book Sale, 10-1 and afternoon Tea Party for Jean’s Bothy, H&L Carers and groups based at the Hub.
• December 9 – Helensburgh Christmas Town exhibition at The Front Room Gallery.
• December 9 – Ceilidh, Cove Burgh Hall.
• December 10 – Mrs Claus at The Hill House, from 10am.
• December 10 - Peninsula Choir Christmas concert, Cove Burgh Hall, 2.30pm.
• December 10 – Cove and Kilcreggan Christmas Dash, 1pm.
• December 11 - Christmas Quiz, demonstration and sampling of homemade wines from the garden Cove Burgh Hall, 7.30pm.
• December 12 - Edible Art Workshop at Cove Park.
• December 13 – Helensburgh Bottle Shop ‘Twelve Days of Tasting’, please book.
• December 14 – Carol Service, Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre, 7.30pm.
• December 15-24 - Drive In Christmas movies at Lomond Shores.
• December 15 - Christmas Party Night at Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre, 6.30pm.
• December 15 - Christmas concert with Denis Kozminykh at Victoria Halls, 7.30pm.
• December 16 to 22 – Santa’s Submarine Experience at the Submarine Centre, 3.30 – 6pm.
• December 16 – Artisans Craft Fair, Hermitage Park Pavilion, 11-2pm.
• December 16 – Festive Party Night at Cove Burgh Hall, 7.30pm.
• December 16 and 17 – Mrs Claus at The Hill House, from 10am.
• December 17 - Peninsula Choir Christmas Concert, United Reformed Church, 3pm.
• December 17 - Come and Sing Christmas Concert, Helensburgh Parish Church, 7pm.
• December 23 – Arrochar, Tarbet and Succoth Santa touring the villages with Arrochar Fire Crew, free gifts for all children. Christmas.
• December 29 - Sandwich Series concert, Rhu Parish Church.
• December 31 - Hogmanay Ball, Rosslea Hall Hotel, Rhu.
• December 31 - Cove Burgh Hall Hogmanay Ceilidh.
• January 1, 2024 - New Year’s Day Swim, Rhu Marina.

The Olde Christmas Shoppe are also offering free refreshments for shoppers every Saturday until Christmas.

Happy Christmas from all at Destination Helensburgh!