Trivia fans might struggle to come up with the answer to the following question: What connects Ariel (the Little Mermaid), zombies and a college duck race? The answer is Inverness and, in particular, the massive Riverside Party which is taking place in the Highland capital on Saturday, June 27.
The happy little mermaid and hordes of the “walking dead” are just some of the diverse performers included in a packed programme of events set to wow the crowds heading for the city centre and celebrating the opening of the city’s River Ness flood defence scheme.
The so-called Zombie-Ness has been planned by Highland Council’s events team as a dress rehearsal for this year’s Halloween celebrations and will involve “infected” people wearing wristbands attempting to tag more “victims” to change into zombies.
From noon onwards, G’s Nightclub will become the zombies’ HQ. Throughout the day, there will be a host of zombie-themed events ranging from a treasure hunt and duck race to a mass photo gathering at the castle and a disco for the over-18s.
Gerry Reynolds, Highland Council’s Inverness events manager, said: “The basic idea of Zombie-Ness is that the zombies catch their food and those who are infected will go into make-up tents and change into zombies. If the public engage with it and enjoy it, then hopefully it will be an event we can do again.
“It is a fun idea which we want to incorporate alongside more-serious events. We are competing with other cities and this year there is a lot of creativity there and plenty of people coming to us with ideas.”
If that all sounds a little too frightening, don’t worry: there are plenty of less-scary activities in the programme, such as a chance to meet the Little Mermaid a St Mary’s Hall at 2pm, performances by the Elizabeth Fraser Highland Dancers, Fiddle Forte and Fly Agaric Stilt Walkers.
Youngsters will get the chance to become superheroes, thanks to the wonders of new technology and a large green screen, have their faces painted and watch spray-paint artist Connor Ross at work throughout the day.
For those interested in exploring, St Mary’s Church and the kilt-making exhibition in the House of Fraser await. As well as rediscovering just how enjoyable a stroll along the river can be, families are invited to explore some of the city’s favourite pubs and restaurants – or find a quiet spot to enjoy a cup of tea and watch the world and the river go by.
As well as being an unusual way of celebrating the opening of a flood defence scheme on Bank Street and Huntly Street, the Riverside Party, sponsored by The Inverness Common Good Fund, is the first major event of 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.
Over the next few weeks, spectators will be treated to the revival of the Inverness Gala at Bught Park, traditionally one of the biggest events staged in the Highlands in the 1950s. The gala will feature the Inverness Highland Games on Saturday, July 18, along with the Highlands’ strongest woman, and the inaugural Inverness Harriers 10k road race will take place on July 19.
Also on the gala show field will be a two-day bubble football tournament in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, along with a tug o war championship, while the World Orienteering Championships and Scottish Six Day Championships will also be taking place from July 21 to August 7.
The summer 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 to give people an experience to remember, as well as giving our local economy a significant boost.”