Dingwall ready for dancing in the streets

FLEET-footed fun lovers are being asked to step up to a dance challenge set to kick-start a week-long gala in Ross-shire’s county town.

With the aim of getting Dingwall Gala Week off to a lively start, a Dancing through the Decades event on Saturday, July 7 will immediately follow one of the traditional highlights of the week, the crowning of the 2018 Gala Queen, King, Prince and Princess.

Chosen for that honour this year are Dingwall Primary P7 pupils Caroline Wilson, Sean McAllister, Taylor Reid and Reece Laird who will find themselves in the spotlight at the launch of the gala on July 7 at 2pm.

A nostalgic step through the ages will follow around half an hour later when the people of Dingwall will, quite literally, be dancing in the streets.

Andrew MacIvor, who is helping to organise the event for the Dingwall Fire Brigade Community Group, is appealing to locals to buy their £2 wristbands to take part in the giant strip the willow which last year attracted 900 participants.

While the usual banner proclaiming the gala week won’t be posted across the street pending checks by Highland Council following safety fears prompted by an earlier incident in Inverness, the traditional bunting has been okayed.

Other highlights of the programme include a kids pet show at the Cromartie car park on Sunday, July 8 at 3.30pm, a baby show on Friday, July 13 from 2pm at the National Hotel and, for the first time, a family 5K fun run at the Jubilee Park on Saturday, July 14 at 10am. The annual floats and fancy dress parade and judging will take place on the same day. That will be staged at the Cromartie car park from 6.30pm.

A car treasure hunt, quizzes and kids’ fun day are also planned.