Families in a Scottish town have expressed their frustration with the Christmas experience, labeling it a ‘shambles’ as organisers scramble to ‘make changes’. The Starry Nights at Dean Castle event faced backlash from parents due to significant delays, with some waiting up to two and a half hours for Santa’s grotto during the opening weekend. Organisers acknowledged the issues, attributing them to a child falling ill in the grotto on Friday night and technical difficulties exacerbating the delays. They extended their apologies and assured attendees that steps have been taken to rectify the situation following a review and customer feedback.
Starry Nights at Dean Castle, based in Kilmarnock, offers a festive walk-round experience at the Dean Castle Country Park, featuring various attractions like lasers, sound installations, fun fair rides, and a food village. Despite being promoted as a “truly unforgettable Christmas experience” that would “warm your senses and glow up your Christmas spirit like never before”, patrons were dissatisfied with the queues at the park and Santa’s grotto on both Friday and Saturday. Disgruntled customers took to social media to voice their disappointment, citing high costs, long waits, and overall disorganisation.
One attendee expressed their disillusionment with this year’s event compared to the previous one, while another highlighted the exorbitant prices coupled with lengthy waits as unacceptable. The Starry Nights team addressed the criticisms on Facebook, reiterating their regret for the challenges faced by visitors on the opening weekend and thanking them for their patience. They assured the public that necessary modifications had been implemented to enhance the visitor experience and prevent similar issues from arising again. Starry Nights is scheduled to reopen on Thursday and is anticipating a smoother operation moving forward.
This marks the second year of Starry Nights at the Dean Castle Country Park, with a concurrent event taking place at Beecraig Country Park, Linlithgow, West Lothian. As families prepare for the upcoming festivities, the organisers strive to deliver an improved and magical Christmas event for all attendees.