WATCH: Portsoy’s Scottish Traditional Boat Festival getting ready to set sail
Porstoy is getting set to welcome thousands of visitors for this month’s Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.
The main attraction will be a display by the Red Arrows team on Saturday, June 22, which will be its only Scottish date in its diamond anniversary year.
Opening the festival on Friday, June 21 will be traditional Scottish band Skipinnish and there will be a huge variety of events over the weekend until Sunday, June 23.
Chairman of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival David Urquhart said: “We are looking forward to the 2024 festival, which is coming round very fast.
“The Red Arrows will be the highlight of this year’s event and we are looking very forward to having them on the Saturday. There has been a lot of support coming for them as well.
“A lot of the traditional boats are coming back including the Isabella Fortuna from Wick and the Reaper from Anstruther.
“We have also got the new coastal craft village round beside the bothy which is all different to what it has been in the past.
“There will be the food fayre and Skipinnish will be performing at the Friday night opening concert.
“There is a lot of community support for the festival. We had strong backing for the kids zone we introduced last year so we have enlarged that which is fantastic.
“It is excellent to have Glenglassaugh on board as our main sponsor.
“We are also grateful to all the other sponsors who are involved as without them the festival would not happen.”
The event will host the world-famous Red Arrows Aerobatic Team on Saturday, June 22.
It is the only Scottish public display performed by the team, during its very busy diamond anniversary campaign.
This new nine-aircraft show will feature manoeuvres not seen for a generation, in the routine which changes each year.
Around 30 traditional boats from across the UK will sail into Portsoy, including 17th century Fifie herring drifter Reaper, which will make the journey from the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, Fife.
Also returning to the festival is White Wing, a 33ft Baldie and setting sail from Wick in Caithness will be 19th century Fifie and festival favourite, the Isabella Fortuna.
This year the event is welcoming a huge line-up of musical acts which will take to the stage.
One of the most exciting bands on the Scottish folk scene, the multi award-winning RURA make their festival debut as headliners of the Saturday night Gig on the Back Green, sponsored by Gray Composting Services.
Also joining the line-up is RuMac, AKA Ruairidh MacLean with his soul stirring melodies and traditional Celtic songs and the Black Isle Peas, who are guaranteed to get the party started.
Tickets are £15, this is a licensed event for over 18s only. Visit the festival website www.stbfportsoy.org to book.
The Harbour Stage, sponsored by Hamlyns of Scotland Oatmeal will be hosted by Andrew Martin and Lauren Mitchell from Northsound Radio.
Returning this year is Dundee-based duo, Sean Findlay and Adam Smith who are currently making waves in the Scottish music scene.
Popular Inverness-based band, Tartan Paint make their first trip to Portsoy, blending traditional instruments with cutting edge sounds.
Award-winning piper, fiddler, composer and instrument maker, Malin Lewis from the Isle of Skye will close Saturday’s music programme. Malin has played in Canada, Europe and across the UK.
Tickets are discounted when purchased in advance online, to book visit www.stbfportsoy.org
For festival updates follow @stbfportsoy or #ahoyportsoy on social media.
