It is one of the highlights of the north-east’s summer events calendar – and tickets are on sale now for the 2015 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.
The Portsoy-based celebration of maritime and cultural heritage will be held on July 4 and July 5 and is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the area and provide a huge boost to the local economy.
There will be a special emphasis on boat-building, restoration and sailing, but there will also be crafts, food, drink, music and dancing.
Last night, festival chairman Roger Goodyear said this year’s programme would provide a “unique” picture of the country’s sailing heritage.
“The 22nd year’s programme for the festival is coming together very well,” he added.
“There’s going to be great boats, the usual non-stop music, song and dance, fascinating crafts, a full programme of entertainment for children, and a wonderful range of all that’s best in the region’s food and drink.
“We set out to present a unique and authentic picture of our great maritime and rural heritage – and provide every member of the family with a super weekend.
“As ever our thanks go to title sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management – and all the other local companies and the volunteers without whom the whole event would not happen.”
Tickets for this year’s festival can now be bought at www.stbfportsoy.com.
Organisers have said that despite the increased costs of running events, there has been no rise in ticket prices, which start at just £4.50 for children.
And parents planning to take their children with them will be pleased to discover that the 2015 programme will have plenty to entertain youngsters.
A marquee at the Salmon Bothy will provide activities for toddlers and small children, including a gigantic sand pit, soft play castle, ‘messy church’ adventures, crafts and parachute games.
For older children there will also be ball games, gigantic crafts and the return of the popular Walking Theatre Company.
Adults, meanwhile, will find entertainment away from the sails in Scottish folk band Malinky, who will headline Friday night at the Wally Green Marquee.
The band will be supported by artists Shepherd and Watson, Mairi Campbell, Dave Francis and musicians from Banff Academy.
And on Saturday, the festival’s main stage will play host to Dutch band De Kinkels for an over-18s concert from 9pm.
And organisers are hoping to make one final push for funding with a special dinner.
It will take place at Portsoy’s town hall on Friday, May 22, and prominent microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington will provide an insight into his work.
Tickets, priced at £25 per person, are available from Keith Newton by e-mailing knsadboy@aol.com.
The annual Scottish Traditional Boat Festival attracted more than 18,000 visitors last year, and brought in more than £1million to the local economy.