Scottish Week celebrations to move online

The 59th annual Peterhead Scottish Week celebrations begin this weekend, albeit in virtual form due to ongoing coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Usually the Blue Toon would welcome thousands of visitors and locals to the seven-day annual celebration of the town, offering up activities, events, pipe bands on parade and local produce.

With large gatherings still banned and social distancing restrictions remaining in place, however, Scottish Week in its usual form had to be called off months ago.

But while there will be no food stalls, dancing, dog shows, tea dances or buttery mornings, there will be virtual versions of the annual Peterhead’s Got Talent competition, window-spotting contest, bingo and art competition.

Meanwhile, Natasha

Clueit reprises her role as Buchan Queen from 2018 to become the first woman in history to take the title twice.

Her name was one of five former holders of that title placed in a hat on Saturday and then drawn as part of a Facebook live broadcast.

She will be joined by princesses Carolyn Carville and Rhainnah Slamakar.

“We have decided it would be unfair to choose new royalty, as they wouldn’t have a true experience,” said a Scottish Week spokesman.

“As this year most of our events will be virtual, the committee instead asked all past queens and princesses who would like another chance to contact us and have their names put in a hat draw to pick this year’s royalty.”

The virtual celebrations begin this Saturday with the crowning ceremony and conclude next Sunday.

A programme detailing 2020’s full virtual offerings is available now in local shops.

Boat winners Team McGill at last year’s event