Inverness Summer festival programme announced

The Highland Council have announced today details of the programme for the 2015 Inverness Summer Festival which will see the return of a major world championships to the Highland Capital , the establishment of two new Festivals and the revival of a much loved Inverness favourite.

The Inverness Common Good Fund sponsored Festival will start on Saturday June 27th with a Riverside Party to celebrate the completion of major flood defence construction work on Bank Street and Huntly Street, which will give the Council and the local business community the opportunity to use the event space that has been created by this work for the first time. It will also allow the Council’s Events team the chance to stage a dress rehearsal for a major addition to the city’s Halloween celebrations called Zombie-Ness.

On Saturday July 4th, Northern Meeting Park will open its doors to welcome visitors to the 2015 Armed Forces Day Celebrations and 24 hours later, will play host to the 2015 Highland Strongest Man Competition.

Following a successful visit to Northern Meeting Park to mark the 150th Anniversary of the world’s oldest Highland Games Stadium last year, the Inverness Highland Games is returning to Bught Park to feature at the eagerly anticipated revival of the Inverness Gala. Traditionally one of the biggest events staged in the Highlands in the 1950’s, this year’s Gala will feature the Inverness Highland Games and Clan Village on Saturday July 18th and the Highlands Strongest Woman, MFR’s Walk of Courage and the inaugural Inverness Harriers 10K Road Race on Sunday 19th July. 

Amongst the numerous displays in the Gala Showfield will be a two day Bubble Football Tournament in aid of the MS Therapy Centre and a new Tug of War Championship and teams wishing to take part in either event can now enter on line by visiting http://www.invernessfestivals.com/

For the first time since 1999, Inverness will play host to the World Orienteering Championships and Scottish 6 Day Championships from 31 July to 7 August. Additional city centre entertainment is planned for Inverness Castle, and around the stage in Church Street, to make the experience of the thousands of participants and spectators more memorable. 

The 2015 Summer Festival programme will end with Scotland’s Salmon Festival, which will not only celebrate the most welcome of all the visitors to the River Ness each year, but also the life and achievements of an Inverness legend of yesteryear Alexander Grant.

Bringing the Summer Festival to a close will be two of the Highland Capital’s traditional showcases, the spectacular Highland Military Tattoo and the Kirking of the Council.

Provost Alex Graham said: “Once again Inverness has a spectacular Summer Festival programme lined up. From the Riverside Party onwards, there is a wide variety of exciting events which help to showcase our wonderful city.  For locals and visitors alike, there will be something for everyone! The Festival helps to draw additional visitors to our City and this year’s expanded programme looks set give people an experience to remember, as well as give our local economy a significant boost.”