Kirkwall BID’s Christmas activities start the weekend of 3rd and 4th of December.

Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December are BID’s big shopping days this year, with the rather surprising name of The Grump Who Stole Christmas.

Apart from The Grump, BID is working with businesses throughout Kirkwall town centre to showcase the amazing products available in its shops, and the delightful food and drink in its eateries. Many will be offering special deals over the weekend, including tasters, discounts, freebies and a treat or two while you browse.

Over the weekend the BID tent will be set up in the Broad Street carpark and will host a lucky dip. All you need to do is answer an easy Kirkwall trivia question and you’ll have the chance to win a whole array of prizes donated by BID members, ranging from tasty treats to money-off-coupons to £120 vouchers!

There will be free face painting in the BID tent on Saturday, thanks to the ever-popular Lianne.

The largest ever collection of Peedie Christmas Trees – over 80! – will be on display, decorated with all the imagination and humour BID members are famous for.

For the first time ever there will be a Giant Gift Hunt along the street. Eight enormous gift-wrapped presents will be hidden here and there through the town: pick up an entry form in town to write down the name on the gift tag. Anyone who gets all the answers correct will be entered into a draw to win a real giant of a gift – a brand new iPad, supplied by Orkney Tech.

Wandering carol singers might pop up…and maybe even a Frozen Princess or two! But the festivities are also attracting the attention of a long-fingered, green-furred misery-guts – The Grump! He’ll be getting up to all kinds of devilment, driven by his dislike of toys and noise and feats and fun. He’s a mean one, Mr Grump… No one knows exactly where he’ll turn up: it could be along the street, or behind a shop counter, or at the table next to you in a café. Wherever he is he’ll be growling and garrumphing and generally trying to steal Christmas. Will he succeed? Come along to the Grump’s Lair, in the log cabin in Broad Street carpark, and get some tips on how to outwit him from the lovely Whoos of Whooville – they’ll all be delighted to get their photo taken with you.

The OIC tree lighting ceremony in Kirkwall will be taking place outside the cathedral at 5pm on Saturday 3rd.