Festival needs help to expand
Lochgilphead Celtic and Pictish Festival will grow into a three-day event and boost the town’s ailing profile - but organisers need help to pull off the expansion plan.
To make Lochgilphead a festival town, it needs members of the community to join the committee and lend a hand.
The festival has £10,000 a year for the next three years, thanks to a grant from a’Cruach Wind Farm.
Battle re-enactments, weapons demonstrations, living history displays, music, crafts, food and drink can all be extended, bringing visitors in their droves.
Brian MacLennan, organiser, said it was difficult to attract tourists to Lochgilphead for four hours on a Saturday.
However, if the festival develops, people will be able to stay for longer - and spend more money locally.
Brian was speaking at a public meeting in the MS Centre on Campbell Street on Friday night. Details of the three-year growth plan were revealed to take the festival to the next level. They plan to increase the offering each year. This year there will be partnership working by funding group activities.
A website is being created to market the festival, an informal Friday evening is being added and they are looking for more opportunities. The festival will provide visits to local schools from experts in ancient Celtic and Pictish culture and pupils will be invited to create something for display at the festival.
A photography group is being funded at the MS Centre for service users to display their work and Mid Argyll Youth Development Service is to receive funding for outdoor crafts, like shelter building and foraging.
Some already arrive on the Friday and camp out the night before the festival but now all performers and providers will be encouraged to join the camp, bringing music instruments, telling stories and singing songs.
Next year the aim is to provide camping for visitors with entertainment, food and drink. Tickets will be sold for camping. Sunday activities will also be added in the form of guided walks, foraging and more in-depth workshops that are too big for the Saturday.
In future years, the festival will find new activities to host local on Sunday, some of which may be ticketed to provide fresh income streams.
Fringe event plans include the re-introduction of the Crinan Puffer, a popular race which used to take place along the canal and attracted many visitors.
A Burns Supper with quiz night incorporated are also in the pipeline. Live music, song and story evenings, guest speakers and exhibitions are also proposed. It is hoped a paid development post can be created.
Brian says this three-year plan can help make the festival financially secure.
He added: “This plan has attracted support and funding so we know it is good and achievable. But it needs everyone to get involved.
“We need all types of contributions from putting up posters to marketing and fundraising to identifying more opportunities to advisers to help us build our network of contacts and make sure we are reaching our community.”
This year’s festival takes place on Saturday August 3 on Lochgilphead Front Green.
Visit the Lochgilphead Celtic and Pictish Festival Facebook page to get involved or email Brian at bsmacl@gmail.com.