Home   News   Article

Buckie Christmas Kracker future looks brighter after community rally to plea for help





The future of Buckie Christmas Kracker and Christmas lights looked a lot brighter following a well-attended public meeting.

Last November saw the annual festive extravaganza - the largest of its kind in Moray - draw over 2000 people to the centre of the town despite very poor weather conditions.

The community has rallied to support the future of Buckie Christmas Kracker and Christmas lights. Inset: Buckie Kracker and Christmas Lights Committee chairman Adam Murray.
The community has rallied to support the future of Buckie Christmas Kracker and Christmas lights. Inset: Buckie Kracker and Christmas Lights Committee chairman Adam Murray.

The popular family event saw a day of entertainment, including a Santa’s grotto, traders’ marquee, charity stalls, a performance stage, funfair and parade, to name but a few attractions, which was rounded off by the ceremonial switch-on of the Christmas lights and a fireworks display.

However, a stark warning was sounded directly after the end of the event by Kracker and Christmas Lights chairman Adam Murray that the lack of volunteers to help set up and run the event placed its future in dire peril. He highlighted that the bulk of the 2024 Kracker was mainly made possible by a team of just four volunteers, a situation that was not tenable going forward.

A public meeting held in the Buckie BB hall at ONE Marchmont on Thursday, January 30 saw an appeal to both the general public and local businesses to step up to the plate or face the prospect of there being no Kracker for at least this year and maybe further into the future

However, any fears the dedicated committee may have entertained as to a lack of local enthusiasm and support were soon banished as the community rallied round in numbers to hear how they could back the event and help it flourish.

Praising the turnout, Mr Murray said after the meeting that there was a need for the Kracker to adapt over the next few years to reflect changes in the wider community and economy.

Santa’s grotto is a popular attraction throughout the day.
Santa’s grotto is a popular attraction throughout the day.

He said: “It was very encouraging to see so many people here - there were more than we expected - and it’s certainly the best attended meeting we’ve had for quite some time.

“I’d like to thank everyone for coming along and I’d also like to thank the BBs for allowing us the use of the hall.

“We’ve had very good feedback from the meeting itself and we’ll see what the feedback sheets we handed out say. It was great to hear from so many people who’re willing to help with the Kracker.

“What is clear is that the Kracker needs a freshen up. We want to make changes that make it work for everybody.

“While we’re encouraged with the response so far we can’t make any promises yet about this year’s Kracker, that depends on the detail of the responses. We’ll hold a further meeting, probably in a few weeks’ time, before we make a final decision.”

Dressing up as a mascot is one of the volunteer roles needed for Kracker day. Picture: Daniel Forsyth
Dressing up as a mascot is one of the volunteer roles needed for Kracker day. Picture: Daniel Forsyth

Opening the meeting, Buckie Christmas Kracker and Christmas Lights Committee vice-chairman Stewart Findlay took the audience through some of the history of the event, which was first held in 2011. It has been held every year since except for a break of one year during the Covid pandemic.

He went on to outline some of the often eye-watering costs incurred by the committee just to make the Kracker happen - “just north” of £15,000 in 2024.

Among the major costs were almost £4500 for a licence from Moray Council, public liability insurance, road closures and electricity to run the lights displays.

Other major outlays included the marquee (£4320), fireworks (£2000), Santa’s grotto gifts (£1500) and extra rubbish bins (£1500).

These costs, the meeting heard, have to be met either by fundraising or sponsorship, plus a percentage from the takings from the likes of the funfair. Last year saw the introduction of sponsorship packages for the first time.

Having a ball at the funfair.
Having a ball at the funfair.

On the flip side, the committee estimated that the event generated some £40,000 for the local economy, noting that the traders who came along to the Kracker were either from the Buckie area itself or from no greater a distance than 60 miles.

In terms of volunteering, Mr Findlay was keen to stress that while it was a big commitment for the committee itself this was not expected from anyone who was able to volunteer some of their time either to set up the Kracker on the Friday, during the event itself on the Saturday or for the clean-up the following day.

Even half an hour or an hour, the meeting was told, can make a difference, for example to allow another volunteer to go for a break and get something to eat and drink.

A huge range of roles needed volunteers, ranging from meeting and greeting traders at the marquee, running Santa’s grotto, dressing up as mascots through to litter picking.

He went on to stress that the Kracker did not encompass just a one-day event annually, it was a year-round effort to hold fundraisers. In addition to an appeal for fundraising ideas and people to help run such events, Mr Findlay also said the committee would be delighted to hear from anyone who could lend them their expertise when it came to running the Kracker’s social medial presence.

Last year’s Kracker drew a crowd of over 200o despite poor weather conditions.
Last year’s Kracker drew a crowd of over 200o despite poor weather conditions.

He added: “The committee don’t want to see the end of the Kracker - we do it because we want to do it for the town.”

Anyone who was unable to attend the meeting but feels they could help out - whether that be by volunteering, sponsorship or both - or has feedback they wish to share is urged to get in touch either by messaging the committee via the Kracker Facebook page or emailing buckiechristmaskracker@hotmail.com


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More