A swathe of colour and music will pour through Inverness tomorrow afternoon for a 400-year-old ceremony to mark the kirking of the council.
The mass pipes and drums, youth groups, councillors and their guests will parade through the city centre for the event, which offers people who work in public services an opportunity to gather and time to reflect.
Highland Council has been inviting members of the public, especially those working in the public services, to attend.
The parade sets off from the Town House in the High Street at 10.45am.
An 11.15am service at the Old High Church is open to all.
After the service the procession will return to the Town House.
The recently formed and already highly successful City of Inverness Pipe Band will join the procession.
It will be led by the Royal British Legion, Inverness Branch pipes and drums, and the City of Inverness Youth Pipe Band along with uniformed youth groups.
City Provost Helen Carmichael said: “More than ever, the kirking provides an opportunity for people who serve and work in public services time to reflect.
“Each year our public services face massive change and the kirking of the council gives us a chance to pause and consider our roles in public service.”
Pupils and head teachers from some of the city’s primary and secondary schools, together with Inverness councillors in traditional red robes and council officials will join the procession to be greeted at the church by the Reverend Peter Nimmo, minister of Old High St Stephen’s Church.
Representatives from the University of the Highlands and Islands will also be participating in the ceremony.
Onlookers can expect to see a 200-strong procession.
The event is held on the second Sunday each September and regarded as an important date in the calendar of events for the City of Inverness.
