Focus on events and regeneration projects

Happy New Year

Discover Lanark would like to wish you a very happy New Year. Your support for the town’s business community in the lead up to Christmas was greatly appreciated and we hope you will continue to shop and eat local in the difficult months ahead.  The last few years have taught us to value our local shops and explore what’s on our doorstep. Lanark has a wealth of shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants and businesses all offering a warm welcome and great service. Enjoy them, support them and love local!

Christmas events hailed a success

Lanark’s busy programme of festive events proved very popular. The Christmas Market and Lights Switch On organised by South Lanarkshire Council was one of the busiest ever, with crowds building through the day until Santa flicked the switch to light up Lanark. Late Night Lanark saw many families out enjoying the opening of Discover Lanark’s free Winter Wonderland, the Lanimer illuminated costume parade and seasonal entertainment.

Santa’s visits to the Winter Wonderland on the first three Saturdays of December proved a hit with over 400 children meeting Santa, his Elf helpers and Poppy the Penguin. Last but not least, our pilot Made in Lanark Festive Market, the first outdoor market hosted in the Hunter’s Close car park, was very well supported bringing increased footfall across the town centre.

Highlights of the year ahead

With the Christmas festivities behind us, we are delighted to give you a glimpse of some of the Discover Lanark projects you can look forward to in the first half of 2023.

Over the next few months, the rundown gap site at the top of Castlegate will be transformed into a public art and heritage interpretation area focusing on the life of William Wallace and his role in Lanark’s past. Two giant gable end murals will form the focal point of the project alongside seating, interpretation and an exciting comic strip version of Wallace’s life.

Lanark will be welcoming back some giants of the past in the summer holidays for Jurassic Lanark 3. Look out for a spectacular new dinosaur graveyard outside the Tolbooth!

A second Lanark Car Show is also planned and, after the success of the Made in Lanark Festive Market, more themed markets and events from early summer.

We hope you will join us in Lanark throughout the year and enjoy all that is on offer.