GLASGOW will offer shoppers the chance to shop till they drop for more than 30 non-stop hours in the run-up to Christmas Day.
The marathon shopping spree is one of the festive highlights planned by store bosses in the city's East End while rivals at Braehead hope to woo families with a four-dimensional film about Santa and a synthetic snow shower. TIMES FILE SCOTS shoppers love Christmas, as the figures prove.
Experts estimate we spent £435 on presents while every household bought in £162 worth of food and drink.
There was no shortage of sweets, as we gorged ourselves on £23m worth of chocolates.
We even lavished £15 a head on the family Christmas dinner in 2007.
We forked out £1m on Brussels sprouts and almost £3m on the turkey. The Christmas pudding and cake cost us £5m while another £2m went on mince pies.
Just to round things off nicely, we splashed out £3.5m on decorations and another £2.3m on Christmas crackers.
Despite the recession, Christmas in Glasgow is still expected to generated hundreds of millions of pounds at the tills as revellers stock up with festive food and drink and presents.
For the third consecutive year, The Fort will offer 31 continuous hours of shopping which will see doors open at 10am on December 23 and remain open round the clock until 5pm on Christmas Eve.
Last year more than 130,000 bargain hunters visited the mall during that period.
The Fort will open until midnight from December 14 and so too will rival stores at Braehead which will have a small cinema - disguised as a gingerbread house - in the central atrium.
It will continuously screen a 10-minute 4D' film called Tinkerdoodle's Christmas. The movie is three dimensional but synthetic snow flakes will shower the audience.
Braehead's marketing manager Lydia Brown said: "Adults and kids alike will be awestruck by the special effects."
At Buchanan Galleries, bargain hunters can shop until 9pm in the run-up to Christmas and free parking is being offered as an added attraction.
General manager Hamish Millar said: "We understand our shoppers are keen to fit gift-buying in around their busy schedules and we've decided to make it even easier by opening our doors longer than ever before."
Late-night city centre shoppers can also pop into the St Enoch Centre which plans to continue trading until 9pm on Christmas Eve.
Shops in Princes Square and The Forge at Parkhead have still to finalise opening hours but East Kilbride Shopping Centre has put together its festive package - it will stay open until 9pm in the run-up to Christmas Day.
Silverburn will also open late during Christmas week. The majority of stores will trade until 11pm although several are expected to stay open later. Shop till you drop
OPENING hours in the run-up to Christmas Day.
GLASGOW FORT:
Saturday, December 19, 9am-midnight.
Sunday, December 20, 10am-midnight.
Monday, December 21, 10am-midnight.
Tuesday, December 22, 10am-midnight.
Wednesday, December 23, from 10am through to 5pm on Thursday, December 24, at selected outlets only.
THE FORGE:
To be finalised.
BUCHANAN GALLERIES:
Saturday, December 19, 9am-7pm.
Sunday, December 20, 9am-7pm.
Monday, December 21, 9am-9pm.
Tuesday, December 22, 9am-9pm.
Wednesday, December 23, 9am-9pm.
Thursday, December 24, 8am-5pm.
ST ENOCH CENTRE:
Saturday, December 19, 9am-7pm.
Sunday, December 20, 10am-6pm.
Monday, December 21, 9am-9pm.
Tuesday, December 22, 9am-9pm.
Wednesday, December 23, 9am-9pm.
Thursday, December 24, 9am-5pm.
SILVERBURN:
Saturday, December 19, 9am-8pm.
Sunday, December 20, 9am-8pm.
Monday, December 21, 9am-11pm.
Tuesday, December 22, 9am-11pm.
Wednesday, December 23, 9am-11pm.
Thursday, December 24, 8am-6pm.
Selected stores to remain open until midnight some nights.
BRAEHEAD:
Saturday, December 19, 9am-8pm.
Sunday, December 20, 9am-8pm.
Monday, December 21, 9am-midnight.
Tuesday, December 22, 9am-midnight.
Wednesday, December 23, 9am-midnight.
Thursday, December 24, 9am-5pm.
EAST KILBRIDE SHOPPING CENTRE:
Saturday, December 19, 9am-6pm.
Sunday, December 20, 10am-6pm.
Monday, December 21, 9am-9pm.
Tuesday, December 22, 9am-9pm.
Wednesday, December 23, 9am-9pm.
Thursday, December 24, 9am-5pm.
PRINCES SQUARE:
To be finalised.
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