Organisers of one of Aberdeenshire’s most popular gatherings are hoping to attract up to 10,000 people to the event this weekend.
An “unprecedented number” of athletes, pipers and dancers have already signed up for Saturday’s Aboyne Highland Games.
Last night, chairman Ian Scott said all members of the committee had their “fingers and toes crossed” for a fine day.
The event will feature a full programme of Highland dancing competitions, tug o’ war, bag piping and fiddle displays, while the heavies will battle it out with hammer and caber as the race to become Glenfiddich champion intensifies.
Last year was one of the biggest in the history of the gathering, with 8,500 people in attendance, but a downpour of rain forced the cancellation of the popular evening marquee.
Mr Scott said the 2015 event promised to be even more exciting.
“We have beefed up our trade stands and we have got an unprecedented number of athletes from all disciplines,” he said.
“There will be something going on all the time. Spectators won’t have a dull moment.
“Last year was tremendous. I don’t know if it was as a result of the Homecoming 2014 or what it was but we had a heck of a lot of folk visiting.
“We would hope that our numbers would be between 7,500 and 9,500 people this year.”
A family ceilidh will be held on Friday night at the games’ marquee, followed by a disco on Saturday from 9pm until 1am.