The Future of Christmas Lights in Small Communities
How small towns across Ayrshire are keeping the magic of Christmas alive
Carly McKim
When news broke that council funding for festive lights had been cut, communities across Ayrshire faced a difficult question: would this year’s Christmas feel a little dull? In Kilbirnie and Kilwinning, the answer was a resounding no.
Rather than accept the bad news, people rallied together to make sure their annual Christmas light switch-on goes ahead, proving that community spirit can shine bright.
Kilbirnie: A Community That Shines Together
When funding was withdrawn from Kilbirnie, the community wasted no time stepping in. At a meeting in June 2024, around 40 residents came forward to offer their services. Determined not to let the lights go out, they formed the Kilbirnie Town Centre Management Initiative (KTCMI) to organise the event themselves.
What followed was a burst of local creativity. Bingo nights, Halloween parties, local bands, bottle stalls, and even a psychic evening all helped to raise funds. The committee also launched a JustGiving page which brought in over £7,000 last year. This remains open for donations for 2025.
Ailsa McCallum, Chair of KTCMI, said: “I think it’s great that people are responsive and want to help, be it a couple of quid or asking, ‘What can I do to help?’ It really brings people together.”
Many of the donations did not come from big businesses, but from smaller, family-run businesses wanting to give back to the town. Ailsa added: “Kilbirnie’s like that… when something needs done, folk always come together.”
With extra time to plan, Ailsa and her team have big plans for this year’s festivities. They want to keep everything as local as possible, with stalls run by residents and small traders. There’s even a rumour of reindeer making an appearance.
“Christmas is for the kids,” Ailsa said. “A lot of them don’t have much, so for me it’s a sense of satisfaction bringing back that magic. Letting them see and experience things they might not otherwise get to. That’s what makes it worthwhile.”
Kilwinning: Eco Lights and Teamwork
Just up the road, Kilwinning faced a similar challenge. The community volunteer group, Choose Kilwinning, decided they weren’t going to let funding dishearten them. Feeling the tightening purse strings of the council, they have decided to keep spirits high and to light up their town on their own. But this has not been without a challenge. Old electrics and corroded wiring initially threatened to derail their plans, but thanks to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), they’ve been able to upgrade to new solar-powered and USB-chargeable lighting.
Amanda, former head of Choose Kilwinning, explained: “Because we went down the route of getting grants and purchasing these USB lights, we’ll now be able to put our lights up every year.”
The new lights will be more sustainable and cheaper to maintain. Committee members are even charging lights in their own homes to ensure backup power during darker winter days.
Amanda is part of a small but mighty committee. She admitted that running events has become more difficult in recent years due to tight finances. “That’s not down to people not being interested, it’s down to people not having money,” she said.
She hopes to encourage more locals to get involved and bring new ideas to the committee. “I think the Christmas lights are really important. It does bring a little bit of sparkle back into the gloomy winter months. When we do things here, we do them well.”
Shining Together
Kilbirnie and Kilwinning are just two examples of communities determined to keep the festive magic alive. Across Ayrshire and beyond, towns and villages are finding creative ways to protect their traditions despite tightening budgets. If people can come together, spirits will shine bright.
