HELENSBURGH Art Hub is joining in the Christmas Town fun - and hoping that aspiring artists in the town will come along for the ride.

The hub's new project name will be "Helensburgh – The Christmas Town", and it will culminate in an exhibition in Helensburgh Library to showcase the completed works.

Art Hub director Karlyn Marshall said: “We are hoping to get the town’s not-for-profit organisations involved in this either by organising their own entries or by encouraging their members to join in.

"We will also be arranging a number of workshops, in Helensburgh at the Art Hub and possibly in Garelochhead during September and October so that members of the not-for-profits can get some guidance and help with ideas.

“Each piece of work handed in to us will have its own label attached to identify the work and the artist, and we can also provide labels for other groups who are holding their own art sessions for members.

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"We are hoping that people from all over Helensburgh and Lomond will join in and create a piece of art for the Christmas Town exhibition.”

She added: “If anyone would like more information please email me at helensburgharthub@gmail.com.”

The entries for the exhibition must be drawings, paintings, collage or mixed media works which can be hung.

If there are too many entries for the space in the library, the works will be changed during the course of the exhibition.

Several other town organisations will be taking part in the Christmas Town celebrations including Helensburgh Community Hub, Fun First, Grey Matters, Jean’s Bothy, Helensburgh Theatre Arts, Friends of Hermitage Park, Drumfork Community Centre and Live Argyll.

Organisers hope other groups or businesses will come forward with their own ideas for festival fun events to add to the month of magic.

To aid with this, the festival’s 'Penguin Crew' have been doing their sums and have put aside a wee pocket of pennies to help groups with possible expenses.

To this end they will be able to offer up to £100 for group to help create their own Christmas Town event. It will be on a first come first served basis until the pot runs out.

If you have a great idea for the festival and would like a little help to make it happen, email media@helensburghwinterfestival.co.uk with your idea and what you would like the wee grant for.

The Winter Festival itself has moved to a new weekend this year, and will take place on December 9 and 10 in Colquhoun Square - offering the customary fabulous Christmas market, music and dance, Santa’s Grotto hosted by the Older Christmas Shoppe and their team of energetic elves, the Santa Dash and of course wonderful street food and carnival rides for the young and not so young.

There will be the usual competitions and more in the run up to the festival, including the ever popular Penguin Competition. Details will be issued very soon and bookings are already being taken for stall holders.

Another one of the reasons Helensburgh is such a magnet for Christmas shoppers is the spectacular festive lights display - easily the best in the West of Scotland thanks to the Helensburgh Festive Lighting Charitable Trust.

This year’s switch-on event will be held in Colquhoun Square on Saturday, November 18.