The 59th annual Peterhead Scottish Week celebrations begin this weekend, albeit in virtual form due to ongoing coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Usually the Blue Toon would welcome thousands of visitors and locals to the seven-day annual celebration of the town, offering up activities, events, pipe bands on parade, local produce and plenty of community spirit.
With large gatherings still banned and social distancing restrictions remaining in place, however, Scottish Week in its usual form had to be called off months ago.
But while there will be no food stalls, dancing, dog shows, tea dances or buttery mornings, there will be virtual versions of the annual Peterhead’s Got Talent competition, window-spotting competition, bingo and art contest.
Meanwhile, Natasha Clueit reprises her role as Buchan Queen from 2018 to become the first woman in history to take the title twice.
Her name was one of five former holders of that title placed in a hat on Saturday and then drawn as part of a Facebook live broadcast. She will be joined by princesses Carolyn Carville and Rhainnah Slamakar.
“We have decided it would be unfair to choose new royalty, as they wouldn’t have a true experience,” said a Scottish Week spokesman.
“As this year most of our events will be virtual, the committee instead asked all past queens and princesses who would like another chance to contact us and have their names put in a hat draw to pick this year’s royalty.”
The virtual celebrations begin this Saturday with the crowning ceremony and conclude on Sunday, July 26.
The spokesman added: “The safety of the public and of the committee and volunteers is of the greatest importance and while it is unfortunate this year won’t have many of the outdoor events we remember, it is hoped events such a Peterhead’s Got Talent, an artists’ challenge and the bingo will go ahead online via Zoom and Facebook live broadcasts.”
Held each July without fail since 1962, the online staging of this year’s event means it can celebrate its 60th annual next year, with organisers already fundraising to make the celebrations bigger and better than ever.
A programme detailing 2020’s full virtual offerings is available now in local shops.
