Alfie Bell was nominated for the honour by more than 100 people through a competition ran by Thistles Shopping Centre.
The Fallin Primary One pupil is the youngest person in the UK to be diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and has been profoundly deaf since he was born.
Alfie has spent much of his young life in hospital, but on Sunday (Nov. 18) he will ride in Santa’s sleigh for the popular reindeer parade through the city centre, before taking centre stage for the big switch-on at 5pm.
His mum Stephanie said: “Alfie is really excited. This is the first year he really understands all about Santa and he’s been sitting on the windowsill and shouting Santa, ‘I’m coming to work for you’.
“He also downloaded an app off my phone where you can call Santa, and he’s been phoning him every day to remind him that he’s switching on the lights.
“Alfie is the youngest person in the UK to be diagnosed with Crohn’s. Although he has been stable for over a year, before that he pretty much lived in the hospital.
“It’s hard and it’s not what you want to happen to your child but this is life for Alfie and while he does suffer from it, he deals with it.
“He has been through things that some adults would struggle with, but you would never know any of this by looking at him. It doesn’t faze him. He’s a brilliant wee boy.
“This will make his whole year and he will be high as a kite on Sunday. I showed him the picture from last year on Thistles’ website and I said that with a few more sleeps you are going to wake up and work with Santa. He can’t wait.”
Once the competition was announced by Thistles Stirling, a campaign on social media for Alfie to be given the opportunity quickly gathered pace.
Stephanie said: “There were well over 100 nominations and it really pulls on your heartstrings. One of my pals nominated Alfie first and tagged me in on Facebook. I put up a post and the next minute I started getting responses from all these people saying they wanted him to win.
“A woman who I had never even met had originally wanted her daughter to win it but then said she was nominating Alfie. It’s a lovely feeling that people want Alfie to be recognised in this way.
“A lot of people know of Alfie because of him not being well and being in hospital all the time so they have an understanding of what he’s been through.He’s such a kind-hearted wee boy.”
Gary Turnbull, Centre Director of Thistles said: “The Stirling Christmas Lights Switch On is a major event for the city and this year promises to be another unmissable occasion.
“Alfie received over 100 nominations to turn the lights on and signal the official countdown to Christmas and we are delighted to congratulate him on being the worthy winner. We hope he enjoys his day and has a memorable experience.”
Stirling’s free festive celebrations officially kick-off at 2pm on Sunday (Nov 18), when Alfie, Santa and his reindeer depart from outside the Albert Halls for their parade around the city centre.
Capital Scotland will keep everybody entertained with festive tunes from the foot of King Street from 2.10pm.
As well as competitions and giveaways with the Capital Scotland presenters, there will be live music performances throughout the afternoon. On the main stage, Ariana Grande tribute act, ‘Simply Ariana,’ fronted by the multi-talented Gemma Lamont, will bring the music and magic of superstar Ariana to Stirling.
Up and coming musician Tommy McGuire will keep the crowds entertained with his Paolo Nutini influenced styles, fresh from recent gigs at some of Glasgow’s finest venues such as King Tut’s and The Classic Grande.
Elsewhere in the city centre, the talented young people from the Big Noise Orchestra will entertain crowds, while a second stage on Friars Street will showcase upcoming local bands and musicians.
Alfie will then step into the spotlight at 5pm as he switches on the Christmas Lights at 5pm, before Britain’s Got Talent Winner Jai McDowall keeps the party going until 5.40pm.
Note: Parking suspensions will be in place from 7am to 7pm on Murray Place (from Station Road to the Roundel) and King Street on Sunday (Nov. 18) for the Christmas Lights Switch On event.
Any cars still parked on these streets at 7am will be moved by a ‘lift and shift’ vehicle to Forthside car park.
Additional parking is available at Springkerse Park and Ride which will be operating extra buses from this Sunday (Nov 18) until December 23, 2018.
Picture shows Thistles, Stirling, Christmas Lights Switch On competition winner, Alfie Bell, and his mum Stephanie