Ardrishaig gears up for gala day with week's events
Ardrishaig Gala Week is in full swing with a packed programme of events well underway as the big weekend arrives.
A guest of honour is joining Saturday’s colourful parade, which leaves Pier Square at 1.30pm on August 17.
Look out for the vintage MacBrayne’s bus, which is marking its milestone 75th anniversary this month.
The owner, 80-year-old Derek Hunter from Stonehaven, is a well-kent face at the Ardrishaig bus depot.
MacBraynes shipping and bus company, today publicly owned and known as CalMac, has a long history with the village.
The parade is set to be quite a spectacle, with floats from several local businesses and organizations, including Coille Haulage, McKerrals, Red Star, Riverside Rascals and DA MacDonald.
Ardrishaig Gala day's prince and princess Duncan McKillop and Abbey McGlone will be at the parade. Photograph: Ardrishaig Gala
There will also be dancers, horses, motorbikes, vintage cars, Mid Argyll Pipe Band and of course, the Gala Queen. Lexie Houston will be crowned when the parade reaches Ardrishaig Public Hall, following a few tunes from the pipe band.
The main event is taking place in the north car park from 1-5pm with boat rides, a regatta, fun, games, an array of stalls, live music with a licensed a bar and lots more.
Paula Cameron of the gala committee is hopeful that Argyll and Bute Council will waive the 50p fee for the public toilets to support the community event.
Local businesses have pulled out all of the stops to support the event with some fantastic raffle prizes on offer.
The top prize is a one night stay away for two people at the Royal Dunkeld Hotel – courtesy of the Grey Gull Hotel.
And the lucky winner of an exclusive bottle of 2007 private cask Kilchoman whisky from Islay worth £175 will be announced. Tickets can be snapped up for £5.
The fun will continue into Saturday night with local band Gubbed playing in the public hall from 8pm until midnight.
People are being reminded that the car park closes from 9pm on Friday August 16 to set up gala day, and are kindly asked to ensure all cars are moved in good time.
For those hardy souls still going strong, there is free entry to Survivors Sunday in the Grey Gull with all day breakfast, cocktails and karaoke.
Another major event in the village calendar takes place on Friday August 16 is the 73rd Ardrishaig Horticultural Society Flower Show opening in the public hall from 3pm.
It will be followed by the community garden open evening from 6pm between the KVG Park and Ardrishaig Primary.
Mid Argyll Pipe Band will be parading too at Ardrishaig Gala Day. Photograph: Janet West
The gala day returned last year after forced break due to Covid.
Ardrishaig Community Council asked locals what they wanted to see in the village and there was a unanimous call to bring back gala day.
This year they have gone bigger and better than ever thanks to a £7,000 grant from the National Lottery which turned gala day into gala week.
It has made a packed programme of cultural and musical events possible, which have been running all week.
Gala Week Events – Free or by donation
It started on Monday August 12 at The Egg Shed with a night with Craig Feeney, Tales from a Retired Sea Captain from his time at Sea, followed by Tuesday August 13, 11am, Ardrishaig Basin: Guided walk – The history of the Crinan Canal; and 3pm Caledonia Court: Scottish Movie Afternoon.
Everyone is hoping that the weather will play its cards right for Ardrishaig Gala Day this year.
On Wednesday August 14, 7pm, at Ardrishaig Parish Church Hall is the Kids Ceilidh.
Thursday August 15, 7pm in Ardrishaig North Hall is the Book Event – Meet the Authors Caro Ramsay and Mairi Kidd.
Caro Ramsay, best selling author of The Anderson and Costello Series, is four books into the new Christine Caplan Series.
Shortlisted for the New Blood Dagger Award and a Times Crime Book of the Month choice.
Mairi Kidd is a writer, publisher and literature development specialist.
The fluent Gaelic speaker is a regular contributor on BBC Alba and BBC Radio Scotland. She is the author of We Are All Witches, Warriors and Witches and Damn Rebel Bitches and Feisty, Firey and Fierce and also writes for children and for broadcast.
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