Published on:
30
November 2009
Clackmannanshire's first ever St Andrew's Day celebrations have been declared a success.
The Celebration of Dance event saw Candleriggs car park filled with contemporary and traditional dancers, music and re-enactments and many spectators were inspired to 'have a go' themselves and join in the fun.
A large crowd were entertained by performances from the FUSE dancers, the Edinburgh Early Dancers, the Inverkeithing Step Dancers and the Edinburgh Tattoo Highland Ceilidh Dancers.
Keith Brown, Minister for Schools and Skills, was amongst those in attendance and he called upon the crowd to take part in a massive Virginia Reel which was the culmination of the afternoon's celebrations.
The St Andrew's Day event was part of the national five-day festival which was planned to ensure a successful send-off for the Year of Homecoming. Clackmannanshire took a starring role in the St Andrew's Day celebration, after Clackmannanshire Council's plans were awarded a grant of £5,000 from EventScotland.
Councillor Kenny Earle, Spokesman for Tourism, said: "The St Andrews Day celebrations were fantastic. It was great to see such a high calibre of dancers in Alloa town centre and wonderful to see so many people, young and old, joining in. Perhaps the cold weather played its part, as dancing is a great way to keep warm. My congratulations go to everyone involved in this tremendous event."
The celebration was delivered in partnership with the Alloa-based Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust.
Trust Director Angela Dreyer-Larsen said: "We are absolutely delighted at the community spirit that was well and truly alive in Alloa on Saturday. Attendance was higher than expected throughout the afternoon and it was wonderful to see so many people dancing and just having fun. Never has Candleriggs car park seen so many people joining in the fun and dancing the Virginia Reel."
And the fun didn't stop once the dancing was over as it was then time for the Christmas Lights Switch On.
Provost Derek Stewart said: "This year's Christmas Light Switch On was bigger and better than ever before with more lights, more attractions and more festive fun. I was delighted to see so many families at the event, which kicks off the Christmas festivities in Clackmannanshire."
Two pupils from Clackmannan Primary School, Robbie Warnock (6) and Rachel Hamilton (9) accompanied Provost Stewart to flick the switch to light up the town centre.
With the Imagine Alloa improvements taking place at the top of the High Street the traditional Christmas Tree has been relocated to Candleriggs.
As a result the festive lights now brighten up even more of the town centre, spreading along Candleriggs, Mill Street, High Street and Maple Court.
The roadshow was provided by Big AL while street entertainer the Snow Queen mingled among the crowds.
For the first time a Christmas Community Fayre and a Santa's Grotto was held in Kilncraigs to coincide with the switch on, bringing even more festive magic to the town centre.
Earlier in the day the High Street clock was brought back to life when the chimes were switched on at noon.
The day was rounded off with a family ceilidh in Alloa Town Hall where revellers danced the night away with music from the Craigendarloch Ceilidh Band.
1. Homecoming Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative managed by EventScotland, the National Events Agency, in partnership with VisitScotland,
the National Tourism Agency.
2. Homecoming Scotland 2009 aims to motivate people of Scottish descent, as well as those who simply love Scotland, to come home in 2009 and take part in an inspirational celebration of our culture, heritage and the many great contributions Scotland has given to the world.
3. 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, with the programme's design guided by Scotland's unique position as the home of Burns himself, Golf, Whisky, great minds and innovations, rich culture and heritage and as the ancestral home of millions of people of Scots descent worldwide.
4. For more information on Homecoming Scotland please visit homecomingscotland2009.com or contact Gayle Wilson PR Manager on 0131 472 2067.