Seven top tips for what's on across the Highlands and Moray from Friday, December 6 to Thursday, December 12

Every week What's On North offers up seven top picks from across the north of Scotland of all the things to do out there in our area. This week's picks include Santa's postbox, festive Funbox, and panto frolics.

1 AS they gear up for their 15th anniversary celebrations in 2020, trad-rockers Skerryvore prepare to see out 2019 with an Inverness concert for the ages.

The award-winning group have had a huge year, with the end of their Evo world tour, the latest in their Oban Live festivals, and are now closing it out with a few final Scottish dates, including the Ironworks this Friday night.

Support on the night comes from Moray singer/songwriter Calum Jones. Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets cost £20 – go to www.ironworksvenue.com

2 FOR the first time, Music Nairn will present the combination of flute, harp and viola when the Orfeo Trio come to town.

The group visit Nairn Community and Art Centre on Friday for a programme including Debussy’s 1915 sonata, the trio arrangement of Ravel’s piano Sonatine, Ibert’s Deux Interludes, Bax’s Elegaic Trio, and Toru Takemitsu’s Towards the Sea.

The concert begins at 7.30pm and tickets cost £19 (£15 members, £3 student). Go to www.musicnairn.org.uk

3 SANTA’S magic postbox is open for letters once again as WinterWoodz returns to the Black Isle once more.

The family-friendly outing returns to Wildwoodz, near Tore from Saturday and continuing through December, featuring storytelling from Mrs Claus, the Sweeties Shed, real live reindeer – and, of course, the magical postbox with an alleged direct link to the North Pole.

Entry costs £17.50 per child and £10 per adult (infants go free – see website). For full details and information, or to check availability, go to www.winterwoodz.co.uk

4 SCOTLAND’S favourite family friends Funbox are getting in the Christmas spirit with a show filled with festive fun times set for Elgin.

The gang – Anya, Gary, Kevin and Bonzo – return to the Moray cathedral city’s Town Hall this Saturday for Christmas in Toy Town – as the gang look after Santa’s most precious toy and protect it from Gnorbert the Gnome.

There will be two performances – 11am and 2pm. For more info go to www.elgintownhall.co.uk

5 A FANTASTICAL show for under-fives is coming to Lyth this weekend, as Paper Moon arrives to offer an udderly out-of-this-world trip.

Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, the show tells the story of Poppy Diddle, who is attending astronaut so she can rescue the cow that jumped over the moon – only to get stuck on it.

There will be two performances each day – 10.30am and 1pm. For full details/prices, go to www.lytharts.org.uk

6 A TERRIFIC cause is having funds raised next week – by a Truly Terrible Orchestra, indeed...

The titular Truly Terrible Orchestra are tuning up for their annual charity Christmas concert at the Drumossie Hotel. With help from the Highland Voices Gospel Choir, the orchestra will be donating the proceeds to The Oxygen Works at the MS Therapy Centre.

The concert will begin at 7.30pm and entry is by donation – recommended £8. Go to www.thetrulyterribleorchestra.org

7 AS panto fever sweeps the country, the Dingwall Players are certainly not walking on eggshells with their egg-sellent-sounding new show for 2019.

Humpty Dumpty: The Egg’s Factor, by Jack Clancy, begins its run from Thursday night at Dingwall Academy Auditorium, featuring jokes and yolks in equal measure.

Tickets cost £9 (concessions £7, under-12s £5). For times and tickets, go to www.dingwallplayers.org