It was fun and laughter all the way at the Gatehouse Gala Grand Parade on Saturday as hundreds lined the High Street to cheer the colourful procession of fancy dress participants, decorated floats and riders on horseback.
Queen’s Attendant Iona Swan and Queen’s Page Elliot Henderson headed the procession in their pony-drawn trap followed by Gala Queen Eliza Scott and Consort Jack Hutchison in their horse-drawn carriage.
Behind followed a wonderful display of fancy dress characters in decorated floats and on foot on their way to Ann Street and down the lane into Garries Park.
There a mini-village of tents, stalls and shows had set up with fairground rides for the children and many other attractions.
The fine weather added to the carnival atmosphere with the Samba Sisters drumming group, a baby show, alpaca rides round the park and a tug o’war among the entertainment on offer.
Eight days of activities ended with a splash on Sunday with a duck race on the River Fleet and live music at the Ship Inn garden beside the river.
Gala committee chairperson Sara-leigh Cain paid tribute to all who had helped make gala week such an outstanding success, particularly the many local sponsors without whose backing the town’s biggest annual
festival would not have been possible.
In a statement on social media, she said: “Thank you to all those who sponsored, supported, helped and visited but most of all thanks to our amazing committee for having the grit to work through all the government guidelines to ensure we had the most amazing week.
