Buckie Christmas Kracker’s future in doubt due to lack of volunteers and committee ‘burn out’ despite 2024’s success
A much-loved annual Christmas celebration’s future could be in doubt despite yet another successful year.
Crowds turned out in their thousands for the Buckie Christmas Kracker on November 16 despite some “horrendous” weather.
A bumper event, which included a funfair, Santa’s Grotto, craft marquee, local traders and catering vans, was enjoyed by over 2000 people.
Cluny Square played host to the large crowd with the event, the biggest of its kind in Moray, being capped with the traditional Christmas lights switch on.
Adam Murray, who chairs both the Buckie Christmas Lights and Christmas Kracker committees, said the event’s success was down to the commitment of a small band of volunteers.
He said: “Our biggest thanks of the year must go to the four boys who worked endlessly.
“From the small hours of Thursday morning till the late hours of Saturday night they pulled it off and made the Kracker as you know it.
“They had a long lie before being back in the afternoon to tidy up again.
“These four boys come from a very small committee of only eight.
“Two of the committee have been behind the scenes doing all the paperwork and admin and the other two unable due to work commitments this year.”
Despite its success, organisers say this year’s Kracker could very well be the last.
A “burnt out” committee and a lack of volunteers are just some of the reasons which are making the event “unsustainable” going forward.
Efforts to recruit more volunteers have proved unsuccessful with a drop-in meeting earlier this year attracting just two members of the public.
Mr Murray says the future of the event is now in doubt.
He added: “With all the positive of the event now comes the negatives.
“Events like this don’t just happen. The four boys are completely done and burnt out.
“They have struggled this year even more than normal due to there only being four of them and the weather against them.
“It’s disheartening to have to say that this may very well be our last event.
“But we cannot sustain the largest Christmas lights event in the area with such a small workforce and committee.”
The team behind the Kracker will hold a public meeting on January 30 to determine the future of the event.
It will be held at 7.30pm with a venue yet to be decided.
