Toun Mercat just one of Scottish Week highlights
SCOTTISH Week returns on Saturday and with it comes a buzzing street market in the town centre.
The triennial event co-ordinated by Forres Community Activities Association (FCAA) continues the Gala Week tradition, including the highlight for many, the crowd-drawing Toun Mercat on Friday, June 8.
Rachel Philp, from Philp’s Fine Food, is organising the market stalls this year.
She said: “With just three weeks to go, there has been a phenomenal interest from both stall holders and performers wanting to secure a place at the popular open-air market held along the entire length of Forres High Street between 6pm and 9pm.
“We have almost 80 stalls confirmed already and applications are still coming in!”
Attendees will find a pedestrianised high street, closed off to traffic for the evening, full of stalls, demonstrations, fairground rides and live performances.
Cafes, bars and shops will also be open, and a new farmers’ market area will offer fresh, local and organic products direct from the producers.
The theme for window dressing and fancy dress (open to everyone) is ‘Come As You Were’ in keeping with Scotland Year of the Young Person 2018.
The entire event will also be compered by Wave Radio.
Forres Area Community Trust development officer Debbie Heron is organising the entertainment.
She said: “We know from experience that people look forward to the Toun Mercat but it’s up to businesses make it special.
“I’m delighted we’ve had so many applicants but there is room for plenty more, especially street performers.
“Anyone interested can contact me at the FACT office, 1 Leask Road, Forres or by telephoning 01309 674388.”
Stalls are £15 and High Street retailers are given priority outside their shops.
Booking forms for stall holders can be downloaded at https://forresarea.org/tounmercat or picked up from the FACT office on Leask Road between 9am and 1pm.
They are also available from Rachel at Fresh Horizons Café on the Forres Enterprise Park between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.
Scottish Week 2018 runs from June 2-10.
A Rock concert at the terraced hills in Grant Park on Saturday, June 2 at 8pm kicks off Scottish Week with a bang showcasing some of the best live music Forres has to offer; there will be performances from Forres Pipe Band including a march through the town centre to the park on Saturday, June 2 at 7pm; street racing for children and adults around the town centre on Monday, June 4 at 6pm has been organised by Forres Harriers; the Burgess Ceremony at Forres Academy is on Tuesday, June 5 at 7pm when six worthy folk will be officially recognised by the townspeople and installed as burgesses of the Royal Burgh to the live sound of Moray Concert Brass; a vintage tea dance with John ‘The Prof’ Matheson and friends is on at Forres Town Hall on Wednesday, June 6 at 2pm; historical tours are on offer including an evening walk around local landmarks and a lecture on witches at the Tolbooth on Thursday, June 7 at 7.30pm; a pet show located between Forres Area Soccer 7’s clubhouse and Forres st Lawrence Cricket Club pavilion will show off youngster’s handling and looking after of their animals on Saturday, June 9 at 11am; and the Riding of the Marches is on Sunday, June 10 at 2pm, a modern twist of the ancient tradition of riding the town’s boundaries on horseback – this year it will be by bicycle!