Halloween Show Ghost Train attracts record crowd
The Halloween Show Ghost Train held in the Ness Islands, Inverness on Friday and Saturday evenings proved a big attraction, with a record crowd attending on Saturday. It was the second major event of the Inverness Winter Festival, organised by The Highland Council.
The opening night of Friday attracted an estimated 1,500 spectators on a night when King Neptune might have thought twice about venturing out. It would be an injustice to the performers assembled on the site to say that they were only singing and haunting in the rain; they did an exceptional job in the most difficult of circumstances. However the downpour eventually became so heavy that everybody was relieved when the two hour show was brought to an early close by the Festival Team with 45 minutes to go.
With most of the children in Inverness having looked forward for weeks to dressing up and helping the Highland Council scare away the ghosts who were stranded on Ness Islands; it was concluded that Saturday night was always going to be busy if the weather for the second night was mild, and so it proved.
A record 8,000 spectators poured on to the Islands and they enjoyed a spectacular show around the 1,300 metre circuit which featured over 100 performers and some wonderfully impressive Ghost Train projections and sound effects. Once again the good natured patience of the spectators as they queued to see the show was much appreciated behind the scenes and made for an enjoyable night for all.
The Highland Counci's Lighting Team also saved one surprise for the weekend as the extension to the pathway illuminations were turned on for the first time; and the new Victorian style streetlights around the Whin Park end island drew many admiring comments.
The Highland Council's Inverness Events Officer Gerry Reynolds said: "We had a record number of children and parents visit us in costume this year and we would like to pass on a huge thank you to the families of Inverness for their imaginative and enthusiastic support for our show.”