Throughout Saturday 28 June the sound of the bagpipes will resonate across the historic town of Forres as 120 of the top Pipe bands in the world compete at the European Pipe Band Championships, sponsored by Benromach Speyside Single Malt Whisky.
Thousands of pipers and drummers, all in their colourful tartans – the majority from Scotland and Northern Ireland but others from Ireland, Europe and as afi eld as Oman and Australia, is a spectacular sight but the sound – especially when all the bands play together in the fi nale cannot fail to stir the emotions and reminds us so poignantly of the power of the bagpipes throughout history to rouse the nation.
“the power of the bagpipes throughout history to rouse the nation.”
The competition itself is run by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association to a well- practised formula where bands compete in their own grade, from juveniles to Grade 1 in 1 of 4 arenas on the park, the vast size and natural amphitheatre of Grant Park easily absorbs the sound. In addition there’s also a competition for the best Drum Major and a Highland Dancing competition.
Forres Events Ltd, a small group of businessmen and women who brought the championships to Forres are keen to make this event a great family day out and also to use it as an opportunity to promote the best of what the area has to offer. There’s a competition to cook the World’s Tastiest Tattie Scone and over
one hundred stalls selling the best produce from the Moray area from Johnston’s cashmere to Dean’s and Walkers shortbread and of course Benromach Whisky as well as food stalls and several beer tents.
As such the event is fully supported by the local Community. In the lead up to the event, few parts of Forres escape a Piping Hot theme with piping hot fl owerbeds through Forres in Bloom; a piping hot tartan, piping hot cupcakes and piping hot Forres pies and to follow, what else but piping hot (chilli) ice cream.
Ian Widdowson, Chairman of Forres Events Ltd who run the Forres side of the event, says: “This is really a fabulous day out for all the family with so many things to see and do and the spectacular sights and sounds of the massed pipe bands is something that stays with you for a long time.”
The event is funded by both the public sector such as Moray Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and predominantly from the private sector through sponsorship from over 100 businesses. For 2014 Piping Hot Forres is also being funded by Event Scotland to increase marketing for the event, and the Community Food Fund fi nanced by the Scottish Government to promote local food and drink, in line with Scotland’s National Food and Drink Policy
www.communityfoodfund.co.uk. Piping Hot Forres will also form part of Scotland’s Year of Homecoming 2014 – a year-long programme of events alongside the Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games.
Whether as a competitor or spectator – it’s an event you just can’t miss – Saturday 28 June 2014 and Saturday 27 June 2015.
TITLE SPONSOR
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