Ardrossan Castle Carnival
Ardrossan Castle Carnival 2017 was back in full swing for the second year running!
With Mother Nature threatening thunderstorms all week, she truly smiled on us at the right time providing beautiful sunshine again....all be it with a full blown gale thrown in for good measure at the top of the hill!! It was funny though as poor Mum came home looking like she'd been dragged through a hedge backwards at least 10 times lol! All worth it though to see the kids laughing and smiling and having lots of fun with the medieval games we provided. The celebration on Castlehill was to mark the 471st anniversary of the meeting of the Privy Council at Ardrossan Castle on 18 June 1546. The parade started the event off with a bang, with a spectacular
community produced display by artistic designer Ariel Killick of Independent State of Happiness and featuring hakas, poi dancers, stilt walkers and a giant William Wallace. Hidden under the giant
William Wallace head was The Scottish Centre for Personal Safety’s Executive Manager, Alan Bell, and his Warriors were made up of instructors and supporters of the charity as well as police officers, members of the Tai Chi club which use the Barony St. John Centre where the charity is based and three registered blind people who have been attending the charity’s personal safety classes. There was bands playing, archery, displays, castle tours, Jousting Scotland again who re-enacted the Les Amis battle combat on horseback and on foot to rapturous applause and cheers from the audience. It was truly top class entertainment and thousands of people there to enjoy every second of it! A couple of the photos enclosed were taken by the wonderfully talented James Waddell-Muirhead owner of Silverfox Photography 70.
Patricia Gibson MP and her husband Kenneth Gibson MSP both showed their support on the day and looked like they enjoyed the carnival festivities just as much as everyone. Even better news is the Ardrossan Castle Heritage Society have secured funding for the next 3 years, so we are all definitely looking forward to taking part in next years event. I would happily encourage all autists to attend this event if they don’t mind large crowds or noise. On occasion I did have to nip away for some quiet time as the noise did get a wee bit too much for me at times but apart from that a really superb event.
Massive congratulations to the organisers and volunteers who done an excellent job!
Ardrossan Castle has been selected to represent North Ayrshire in the Scotland in Six Hidden Gems competition, which is part of the celebration of Scotland’s 2017 Year of Heritage, History and Archaeology.
Voting takes place through July so please show your support here: https://www.facebook.com/DigIt2017/