Crowds admiring the festive animations on Trinity Hall last Christmas. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
Two of Union Street’s most iconic buildings will be transformed into glittering celebrations of Christmas with large-scale animated illuminations for the festive season.
Trinity Hall and the former RBS building at St Nicholas Square will burst into glorious life as the Christmas Parade winds its way through the heart of Aberdeen this Sunday, November 15.
The extra sparkle for the Granite City comes courtesy of a project delivered by Aberdeen Inspired and Our Union Street, sponsored by another icon on Union Street, the jewellers Jamieson & Carry.
Cutting-edge digital projectors will beam images capturing the joy and heartfelt warmth of Christmas onto the buildings for the duration of the festive season, said the team behind the collaboration.
Precise details of the eye-catching animations which will cover the full facades of both buildings - illuminated in a similar way last Christmas - are under wraps until Sunday. That means the thousands flocking to the Christmas Parade will have a magical surprise as they are switched on at the same time as the Union Street Christmas decorations.
How Trinity Hall looked last Christmas. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
Christopher Carry, Managing Director of Jamieson & Carry, said: "We were delighted to support the efforts of Aberdeen Inspired and Our Union Street to bring some additional festive cheer to Union Street this Christmas.
"With the completion of the improvement works and the full reopening of Union Street central, it's a particularly exciting time for the city centre. We hope the illuminations at these iconic buildings will add to the festive atmosphere and encourage people to come and enjoy all that Aberdeen city centre has to offer this Christmas."
Danuta Dobrzanska, Business Engagement & Development Manager of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “Nowhere shines as brightly as Aberdeen city centre when it comes to celebrating Christmas and these stunning displays on two of Union Street’s best-known buildings will add even more magic.
“This partnership between ourselves and Our Union Street – and the generous support of Jamieson & Carry - will lift the city centre at this special time of the year and be part of all the wonderful incentives for people to come into town to enjoy the festive season. Think of it as a Christmas gift from all involved to the people of Aberdeen.”
The RBS in its fine festive illuminations last year. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
David McKeith, Operations Director of Our Union Street, said: “This is a great example of what can be achieved by working together to make the city centre an even better place to visit and enjoy. We're always looking for exciting ways to encourage people into the heart of Aberdeen and make the most of everything it has to offer.
“It's terrific to be able to support this initiative and play our part in bringing some of Union Street's best-known buildings to life. The projections will add some extra Christmas magic and hopefully remind people just how special Aberdeen can be.”
The animations are by Makmono Design, with the Aberdeen-based creative studio playing a key role in the project, using its expertise to showcase the city’s architecture in a fresh and imaginative way.
The thousands of people coming in for this Sunday’s celebrations will also enjoy the fantastic Aberdeen Christmas Village and unique Curated In The Square festive market, both of which will be in full swing on and around Broad Street from this weekend and for the next six weeks.
Aberdeen Christmas Village and Curated In The Square will attract thousands of people into the city centre. Image - Codona's
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron, will get Sunday’s festivities on Union Street underway at 5.15pm, with Santas on scooters setting off down Union Street just after, followed by the All Life Chances Santa Fun Run on the Granite Mile at 5.25pm.
The main parade will set off at 5.30pm from Albyn Place and make its way down Union Street, finishing at the Castlegate.
The majority of the works on Union Street will be finished, with the street being fully accessible to pedestrians. Further works, including conversion of Smith’s Screen, will resume after the parade.
You can find more information on Christmas in Aberdeen, including the Curated In The Square festive market at the Aberdeen Inspired website.