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The 50th yearly Golspie Gala begins tomorrow with a bumper list of occasions prepared.
The long-established occasion, referred to as “a week long celebration with enjoyable for everybody”, will range from Saturday, July 29 till the following Saturday, August 5.
This year’s Gala queen, Mea Macleod and her 2 attendants, Chelsea Morrison and Tyler Oglesby, will have a really hectic however no doubt pleasurable and remarkable week.
The trio were chosen for the functions at a Gala Queen Dance at the Stag’s Head Hotel in the town previously in the year.
As is now a recognized custom in the town, Rhiann Sutherland, in 2015’s Gala queen, will carry out the crowning.
Gala Week will be formally opened this year by regional singer/songwriter, Geordie Jack. No complete stranger to Gala Week celebrations, Geordie has actually formerly carried out with groups, Colorado and The Jacks.
A Gala Week agent said: “From the opening crowning event and the queen’s grand ball to the closing grand ending massed pipelines and drums, it is going to be a cracker of a week. So scan the program and make your strategies.”
As well as the staple Gala Week occasions such as witch hunt, quizzes, marquee occasions, sports and video games, football and more, not to discuss plenty for the kids, a number of other occasions will run throughout the week.
East Sutherland Art Society will continue their summertime art exhibit throughout the week, which started on Tuesday.
The Golspie Heritage Exhibition will range from Monday to Friday from 10am till 4pm at the Golspie Heritage Society. The style for this years exhibit will be “50 years of Gala Fun”.
Lord-Lieutenant for Sutherland, Major General Patrick Marriott will likewise be carrying out assisted strolls at the just recently set up Littleferry memorial stone.
The ‘Battle of Littleferry’ strolls are totally free to sign up with, happening near the Golspie Golf Club greenkeepers’ building.
Two different strolls are scheduled for Monday July 31 at 1pm, and Wednesday August 2 at 6pm.
A breakdown of Golspie Gala Week occasions is noted below:
Saturday July 29
9.30am – Flowers reveal including a display screen of previous queens and attendants gowns, held at the YMCA.
2pm – Sand castle competitors. Entry is totally free at the north side of the pier. Release your inner carver. Free ice cream for all kids participating.
6pm – Crowning event and raffle, at Golspie High School playing fields.
7.30pm – An night of expert fumbling. £5 entry at Golspie High School video games hall. An extremely amusing program including Scotland’s finest expert wrestlers.
7.30pm – Queen’s grand ball contribution, held at the Gala marquee. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Golspie Gala Week we will be holding a grand ball in the marquee camping tent for all ex queens and attendants.
Members of the general public are welcome to participate in after 9pm. Live music will be offered by The Jacks and the 136.
Sunday July 30
10am – North of Scotland Kart Club at Little Ferry, Golspie. Refreshments available from “Nannas Kitchen”.
1pm – Demolition Derby £10 admission at Strathsteven Broch. Under-12s go totally free. As seen on television, world well-known Banger Racing with drivers from all over the world participating. Various stalls and beverages available. Strictly no entry to pit locations and all family pets to be kept a lead.
2pm – Open bowls competition £3 entry charge at Golspie Bowling Club, to object to the Norman Miller memorial guard
3.45pm – Open darts competition £3 entry charge at the Stags Head Hotel.
5pm – Pub witch hunt £3 per individual. The hunt begins at Golspie Golf Club, and surfaces at Golspie Inn, with barbeque food available at the Golf Club.
7pm – Songs of Praise collection at GGW Marquee – school premises.
9.30pm – Live home entertainment £5 at Golspie Inn. Music from The 136.
Monday July 31
11am – Youth junior county football competition (totally free entry) at Golspie High School playing fields for the Pearl Mackay Trophy.
1pm – Battle of Littleferry Guided Walk (totally free entry) – An assisted walk by Patrick Marriot beginning at the just recently set up Littleferry memorial stone (simply below the golf club greenkeeper building).
1pm – Open swimming pool competitors and dominoes. £3 per individual at the Stags Head Hotel.
2pm – Children’s rounders and barbeque. Free entry at the marquee. Fast paced enjoyable, complemented with a complimentary hamburger for the kids.
3pm – Junior 3k colour run (totally free entry) at Golspie High School playing fields. A 3k enjoyable run “for all you dreamers and magic makers.” For optimal result, use your finest whites and you can walk, avoid, leap or go through the menagerie of Gala assistants tossing coloured powder about.
7pm – Bingo at the Stags Head Hotel.
8pm – 70s Boogie Express, £5 entry at the Stags Head Hotel. Dust of your grateful rags and transportation yourself back in time to when the gala started. An excellent night of dancing with retro attire and complete energy efficiencies. Get all set to boogie.
Tuesday August 1
10am to 2pm – Three lady group Gala Week Open £15 at Golspie Golf Club.
11am to 4pm – Golspie Heritage Exhibition. The style for this years exhibit will be “50 years of Gala Fun”.
11am – Childrens’ sports (totally free entry) at Golspie High School playing fields. A staple in the gala program, and hosted by Lois Chambers.
1pm – Teddy Bears’ Picnic (totally free entry) at the marquee, including “Tumbles of Fun”, soft play for nursery age and under kids. Bouncy castle and unique wildlife rescue outside for older kids.
1pm – Mixed Doubles Open tennis (totally free entry) at the tennis courts.
2pm – Goodnight Sweetheart Cabaret reveal, £5 entry at the Stags Head Hotel. Taking you back along for half a century, this journey down memory lane includes swing, huge band and classics from 40s, 50s and 60s.
2.30pm – Car boot sale at Golspie High School playing fields or the marquee if wet (minimal areas). Cars – £10, Vans – £15, Traders – £15. No tables will be attended to this occasion.
6pm – Ben Bhraggie hill race (totally free entry) start and surface at Golspie High School playing fields. Children under 7 not encouraged to participate.
8pm – Casino Night at Golspie Inn. Dress your finest as Vegas pertains to Golspie.
Wednesday August 2
9am – Duck race (totally free to get in) at the Ford at Dairy Park.
11.30am – Childrens Pet Show (totally free entry) at the Bank House (like the old days). All animals terrific and little welcome.
2pm – “Uppies v Doonies” football (totally free entry) from 6pm at Golspie High School playing fields. Some call it the Golspie Derby, we call it the “Uppies v The Doonies”. A competition like no other, which has its roots based upon a fictional line drawn through the town.
2pm – P7 and under junior football
3pm – 13 to 15 years junior football
6pm – Over 35s football for the Hame Urquhart memorial prize.
6pm – Under 12 quiet disco (totally free entry) at the marquee
7pm Open Bowls competitors £3 entry at Golspie Bowling Club.
8pm – 12 and over quiet disco (totally free entry) at the marquee. An opportunity to get dolled up and put your grateful rags on, and even use your trackies if official togs are not your bag. Music by citizen “DJ Jazzy Jake”.
7.30pm Pub test by Malky followed by ceilidh music £3 entry at the Stags Head Hotel. Exercise your grey matter with a pub test from our ever popular test master Malky.
Thursday August 3
10am to 2pm – Gala Week Open blended foursomes. Entry charge for members £15, visitors £25.
11am – Bonniest Baby (totally free entry). To be evaluated by Ruth Sawyers.
2pm – Kids’ skill program and bean consuming competitors (totally free entry) at the marquee. A unique opportunity for the aggressive moms and dads to showboat their kids skill. Entrant names to be provided to Eilidh Jones by August 1 (sports day).
7pm – “Bingo Loco” £25 to get in at the marquee. A twist on typical bingo, win a vacation for 2 to a European location. A unique mix of boozy bingo, pulsating bingo raves, and good old-fashioned enjoyable. Strictly No Under 18s, and ID will be needed
Friday August 4
9am – Open angling competitors £3 entry charge at Loch Lundie – put together at back of Stags Head Hotel.
6.15pm – Fancy gown competitors collection rivals and embellished drifts put together at the marquee
7pm – “Mardis Gras” parade of drifts and costume. Follow the parade along the primary street to the King George V playing fields where the reward providing and quiet disco will occur.
10.30pm – Grand costume dance £15 entry charge at the marquee. Live Entertainment from Celtic Rock leviathans “Rhythm N Reel”. Strictly No Under 16s, and ID will be needed
Saturday August 5
11am – Looney Dook at Golspie Pier. Clear off the cobwebs with a revitalizing dip in the North Sea. Children should be accompanied by grownups.
12pm – Golspie Gala Hair of the Dog Hoe Down Free Fun day at the marquee. Calling all cowboys and cowgirls, dust of your cowboy boots and stetson hats for the last shootout at the marquee confine. Bucking bronco, a lassoo competion and line dancing, including live music by Calum Campbell.
7pm – Grand finale massed pipelines & drums collection parade through the primary street beginning at the back of the Stag’s Head to Golspie High School playing fields. Featuring: Sutherland Caledonian Pipe Band, Sutherland Schools Pipe Band Inverness British Legion Pipe Band,Thurso Pipe Band Wick Pipe Band, Rendall Pipe Band. All other going to pipers and drummers invite to participate
10pm – Grand finale dance to “Dark Horse”. £15 entry charge at the marquee. You’ve had the costume night, now it’s time to return on your horse. Strictly no under 16s, and ID will be needed.
Sunday August 6
10am to 2pm – Gents Gala Open at Golspie Golf Club. Entry for members £10, visitors £25.
