M&D's theme park owners to run Glasgow's Christmas events
Glasgow's Christmas events have traditionally been held in George Square
- Published
The company behind M&D's theme park is set to run Glasgow's new Christmas events, with hubs planned in Glasgow Green and St Enoch's Square.
George Square, which usually hosts the Christmas lights switch-on and a market, is closed for refurbishment until August next year.
The local authority sought bids from firms interested in running the two hubs in 2025 and 2026.
Officials have now recommended a contract is awarded to Lochview Theme Park (Scotland) Ltd — which runs M&D's "Scotland's Theme Park at Strathclyde Park in North Lanarkshire.
The council advert stated Glasgow was "building a new approach to winter events in the city" after a strategic review.
Long-term plans for the city's festive decorations will "evolve in the coming months", it added.
A set fee will be payable to the council for the rights to provide the hubs for each year of the contract.
Officials say the council will receive "significant revenue income", but they are not reporting the value due to the "commercial sensitivity of the information".
In a report to councillors, who will consider the recommendation at a meeting on Thursday, officials state that following the review, the council is "moving away from that of a traditional Christmas market delivered previously to a festive winter hubs approach".
It claims the new vision will provide "a more coherent approach to winter, bringing together commercial, civic and community events under a single umbrella to attract visitors, engage citizens and support city centre vibrancy".
The new offering will have broad appeal and be firmly family-focused, according to the report.
The contract is set to run from October 2025 to January 2027. There were 16 expressions of interest and four companies submitted bids.
The city traditionally held a ticketed Christmas lights switch-on in George Square, usually followed by a fairground, ice rink and market stalls being present during the festive period.