Over 50 organisations were involved in the first HarbourFest held in 2007 and even more are anticipated for this year's celebration which will cover three days and involve a larger programme of activities.

One of the main attractions for this year will be the re-enactment of the Wick Herring Queen Festival, which has not been celebrated in over half a century.

Mr Richard-Jones said: "It is going to be an evocative pageant, it is 56 years since it was last performed."

He felt the Wick HarbourFest would be a special homecoming event which has not only attracted attention regionally, but also nationally and internationally.

The selection of the herring queen will be based on the same format as that of the town's gala queen, with the co-ordinators working alongside the gala committee, who have offered to assist in the process and provide the use of traditional robes. The herring queen will only reign for the three days the event covers.

Mr Richard-Jones said that he felt the event would be a major draw for visitors and explained that many Caithness exiles had already expressed an interest.

Another new feature of the HarbourFest will be the involvement of young people in the planning stage as well as project work for an exhibition.

Mr Richard-Jones said that he hoped this would help them to develop an interest and enthusiasm in their culture and heritage.

On the opening evening of the celebrations, the herring queen will sail into Wick harbour on the lead boat of a flotilla of heritage vessels.

After being crowned, the queen and her court will travel in a procession around Pulteneytown, accompanied by the Melvich Gaelic Choir. Later on that evening a youth music festival will be staged.

A full-day of activities is planned for the Saturday, which will start off with a royal opening by the herring queen.

The event will coincide with Wick lifeboat day and it is hoped that the Sumburgh helicopter will be able to provide an air search-and-rescue demonstration similar to the one carried out during the previous HarbourFest.

Hopefully visitors will once again have the chance to have a look at some of the vessels taking part, including boats belonging to the herring fleet.

Marquees will provide viewing space for an extensive exhibition of the maritime heritage and culture of Caithness prepared by local primary and secondary pupils, while the HarbourFest stage will be the venue for song and dance performances.

Among the many local musicians taking part will be the Wick RBLS Pipe Band.

Vintage vehicles and machinery of all descriptions will provide one of the largest displays in the North. Included in the spectacle will be cars, motorbikes, stationary engines and farm machinery.

An increased number of charities and groups have expressed an interest to participate with fundraising stalls, and traders are also keen to sell a wide range of produce.

In addition, a children's fun fair will be held on the Braehead. A venue has yet to be arranged for Saturday's finale, a homecoming ceilidh.

On the Sunday the herring queen will conduct a farewell ceremony before the flotilla sails away, while a Hymns of the Sea church service will be held in the evening.

Mr Richard-Jones said: "We know it is going to bring people back home. It is the one event in the county which brings people together – it is a major community celebration."

Wick HarbourFest was one of the local projects to be awarded funding in the first round of the new Highland 2007 Legacy programme which prioritised events contributing to Homecoming Scotland 2009.

The event secured £7000 from the scheme and has also received money from Awards For All. Organisers, however, are still looking for additional funding to help make the celebration a success.

HarbourFest '07 was hailed a success with sailing vessels of a variety of eras packing the outer harbour.

j.gunn@nosn.co.uk

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