Thurso Gala will be occasion for all
THURSO Gala Week is going back to basics this year and focusing on the events people know and love so well.
Thurso Town Improvements Association, which organises the event, is keen for the whole community to turn out and enjoy the fun they will have on offer when the week kicks off tomorrow.
The annual event always proves a big crowd-puller, as adults and children alike celebrate and take part in the wide range of entertainments on offer.
Tomorrow evening will see the week launch with everyone’s favourite – the gala crowning ceremony andPride of Thurso Award recognising outstanding community involvement, followed by the parade of floats and fancy dress walkers.
This year the crowning and opening ceremony will be held in the Ellan Bridge car park, Riverside Road. Last year’s venue at Janet Street proved a huge success but association chairwoman Doreen Macleod said the one problem had been finding enough space for the floats to pass through the crowds. She hopes the new venue will solve that problem.
Lara Dasar has been picked as this year’s gala queen and she will be accompanied at her crowning by attendants Abbie Higgins and Vikki Wright along with flower girls Kelsey Cunningham and Evie McEwan, and page boy Alan Frame. Their guard of honour will be Kuk Sool Won and Thurso Gymnastics.
Children’s and adult fancy dress competitions will amuse the crowd as well as all manner of stalls, while Wick RBLS Pipe Band and Mina Mackay’s Highland dancers and Caithness Big Band entertain.
That night Mike Devine will perform at the Royal British Legion and Pennylane will play the Holborn Hotel.
All manner of activities are planned throughout the week. Old favourites including the dog show Scrufts, the baby show, car treasure hunt and autocross competition will all be held, as well as a photo exhibition, a photo competition, yacht race and regatta.
Mrs Macleod said: “Last year we moved the event to Janet Street which worked very well but we struggled a bit to get the floats through the crowd so we hope this new venue will bring it all together.
“The parade will run past the Royal British Legion and down Manson’s Lane before following a route twice around and then back down to the river.
“There will be something for all ages. We’re trying to go back to basics and focus on the events that people love, like kids’ racing, Scrufts, the baby show, fun run and autocross. They’re tried and tested and people enjoy them so much.”
Mrs Macleod said the committee is always overwhelmed with support from local groups and organisations which pull together and organise and help out with events for the gala.
She said: “The whole community pulls together and they make it such a success, it’s not just us who organise it.
“We’re really excited for the event and for all the families and children who get involved.
“The schools get involved too when we go to pick out the attendants and the shops get involved with the red herring event. We try to do a bit of everything.”
Mrs Macleod said everyone is crossing their fingers for good weather but they are determined to have fun however it turns out.
She said: “We’re hoping for plenty of floats to turn out and would call on everyone to come along and enjoy it.
“We’re just a small team and recently got some new volunteers who joined in to help and give ideas. We are always looking for more volunteers and committee members though.
“At the end of the day we do it for the community.”
For full details visit Thurso Gala Facebook page.