Golspie Gala Week is renowned for the vibrancy and creativity of its fancy dress and float parade and this year certainly did not disappoint.
Even a shower of rain and a few midges could not dampen the festive spirit in the village last night as Gala Week nears its end.
Cowboys, from left, Martha Sutherland, Colin Mackay, Mackenzie Hope, Jamie Mackay, Kegan Mullins, Charlie Dunbar and Lachie Roberts.
A Gala Week official said: “It was a terrific turnout considering the weather. Everyone has done really well.”
Participants gathered at the school playing field before parading down Main Street to the King George V play park for the prize-giving ceremony.
Some participants drew inspiration for their costumes from popular television programmes such as The Traitors, I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! and the controversial Netflix hit Baby Reindeer.
Others turned to politics and local issues to make a point with Stop the Pylons winning best overall in the senor group category.
Two entrants dressed up as portable toilets to highlight the lack of facilities along the North Coast 500 tourist route.
One group turned themselves into the ‘Back Road Bush’ in protest at the failure to cut back an overgrown bush along Golspie’s Back Road, forcing school children having to leave the pavement and walk on the busy road to avoid it.
The Gala Week continues today with a Loony Dook at Golspie Pier at 11am and a Golspie Gala Hoe Down in the marquee from 1pm to 6pm.
The Grand Finale Pipes and Drums tonight sees a parade down Main Street, starting at the back of the Stag’s Head Hotel to Golspie Playing Field.
The parade will feature Sutherland Caledonian Pipe Band, Sutherland Schools Pipe Band, Inverness British Legion Pipe Band and Wick Pipe Band.
Gala-Area 51 took its inspiration from the US military base that has become synonymouswith tales of UFOs, government cut-backs and potentially testing alien technology.Stop the Pylons was judged best overall in the senior groups.Stop the Pylons.No prizes for guessing the inspiration behind this float.The Craitors.The Tartan Army came second in the junior floats class.Matilda and Miss Trunchbull - Casey France with her granny Val Ross.This quartet took their fancy dress inspiration from the controversial Netflix hit, Baby Reindeer. From left, Elaine Masson, Karen Smith, Tracey Campbell and Rachel Young.Mad Max. Eden Grant, Linda O'Brien, Cindy Smith, Gemma Mackay, Elanne MacArthur, Carrie Mackay and Isla Mackenzie.Mexican Cross Tennis. From left, Alfred Mackay, Rhys Keith, David Murray, Austin Keith and Kevin Cairns.Back Road Bush highlighted the nuisance caused by an overgrown bush on the Back Road in Golspie, which means that school children on their way to school have to leave the pavement and walk on the road to avoid it. From left, Alie Macleod, Claire Macdonald and Laura Sutherland.The Dunkin Donuts, from left, Dorothy McAndrew, Myra Mackay and Irene Jack.Lego men Kevin Jack and Ben Jack (5). Ben came first in the 4-5 years fancy dress class.No Gala, No Party. Tina Smith, Libby Mackay, Kelly France, Amy Mackay and Suzanne Doogan.This duo were making a point about the closure of toilets along the NC500 tourist route.Last of the Gala Blooms won the best dressed class in the senior groups. Underneath the flowers are Valerie Mackay, Nicola Jack, Kim Mackay and Nina Jack.Rewilding - a nod to Anders Holch Povlsen and his rewilding dream for Scotland. From left, Aileen Ogilvie, Jo Henderson, Fiona Paton and Gillian Murray with young Vida Ogilvie at the front.Bravo Squad.Synchronised Swimmers came second in the senior floats category.The pipe band got into the spirit of the event by dressing up.Jurassic Park came first in the senior floats section.
Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.
