New dates announced for ghostly gatherings

The Highland Council has announced details of new dates for their Homecoming Halloween Shows at Ness Islands, Inverness which were cancelled earlier this week due to flooding.

After 72 hours of intense activity to secure the services of over 200 performers, lighting specialists and event staff;  the Council can now confirm that shows will take place on the evenings of Friday 28 at 7pm and Saturday 29 November at the earlier time of 5pm.

Highland Council’s Inverness Events Manager Gerry Reynolds said: “Since we announced that we going to try our very best to turn this week’s cancellation into a postponement, we have received so many messages of encouragement from the parents of disappointed children that we are delighted to have been able to ensure that this particular rain cloud looks likely to have a silver lining.

“Behind the scenes the Eden Court CREATIVE team, who provide the majority of our performers, have been absolute stars and we cannot thank them enough for rescheduling all sorts of things like pantomime rehearsals in order to ensure that these shows can go on. Both shows will last for 2 hours and we have been warned that they are guaranteed to get progressively scarier as the ghosts congregate around Burke and Hare’s Tavern for Unhappy Hour. ”

The Inverness Winter Festival will continue on Wednesday 5 November 5 with the annual Civic Bonfire and Fireworks Display. The event will commence with the judging of the Primary School Guy Making Competition sponsored by Fergusson Coal at 7.20pm; before Provost Alex Graham steps forward to light the giant Bonfire at 7.30pm. This will be followed by a 20 minute fireworks display staged by the award winning Fireworx Scotland Display Team which is expected to start at approximately 7.55pm.

Council staff will be inspecting Ness Islands over the course of the weekend to determine when it will be safe to reopen it to the public. Bonfire spectators intending to use Ness Islands on Wednesday evening to cross the River Ness to attend the Civic Bonfire and Fireworks Display are asked to check the local media or visit http://www.highland.gov.uk/ to confirm that it has been re-opened and is available for use on the night.

-ENDS-