Village set for annual festival

Jul 2 2009 Blairgowrie Advertiser

KIRKMICHAEL will become the focus of rural Eastern Perthshire this weekend as hordes gather for the village’s annual summer festival.

Now in its fifth year, the two-day showpiece will feature a host of events from 10am on Saturday and noon on Sunday (July 4 and 5).

The highlight of the first day looks set to be the official opening of Kirkmichael Village Shop.

North Tayside MSP John Swinney is set to conduct the ceremony at 12.15pm, designed to celebrate the community’s efforts in saving their local store from closure.

And on Sunday, along with hotly-contested tug o’ war and football matches, 500 plastic participants will attempt to evade capture as the River Ardle provides the backdrop for the now infamous Duck Race.

Organiser Petrina Menzies, a development worker with the village’s Session House and Open Learning Centre, said she hopes the weather mirrors the festival’s “summer celebrations” theme.

She said: “The festival was started with the view of getting the whole community involved.

“It’s great that a lot of groups, such as the Brownies, Scouts, Kirkmichael Church and the Village Hall, get the chance to raise some money.

“But its really about bringing everyone together and fostering community spirit, rather than benefiting financially,” she said.