Popular Snowdrop Festival is back for fourth year in a row
East Perthshire residents are reminded that the popular Snowdrop Festival returns to Coupar Angus this weekend.
Now in its fourth year, the festival will take place over two weeks and features a range of activities and events highlighting the area’s spectacular snowdrops.
Part of the national Snowdrop Festival – which features snowdrop displays in more than 50 locations around Scotland – the Coupar Angus Snowdrop Festival is the only snowdrop-themed community event in the country.
As well as the popular snowdrop walks in and around the town, the festival will also see the return of events such as the annual snowdrop bingo tea run by Coupar Angus Primary School’s parent council group, the Abbey Church Spring Fair, the themed window display competition and the snowdrop cycle organised by the Coupar Angus Cycling Hub.
The festival gets underway on Thursday this week, February 23, with the snowdrop lecture which this year features two speakers.
Terrill Dobson, of Scotland’s Gardens, will talk about how the national Scottish Snowdrop Festival has developed over the past few years, and Katie Dessain from Lawton House near Arbroath will talk about the Georgian House’s woodland garden of beech trees – which is carpeted with snowdrops and crocuses in spring.
New events for this year include a murder mystery supper in the Abbey Church on Monday, February 27.
Coupar Angus Pride of Place is organising a number of events as part of the festival. As well as their fundraising ceilidh on Friday, March 3, the award-winning volunteer group is also holding a dinner dance at the Red House Hotel on Saturday, February 25 and will be running a snowdrop tea shop in the Y Hall on Union Street in the town this weekend.
The shop will be serving refreshments and will have a range of snowdrop-themed crafts and goods available to purchase.
The Coupar Angus Garden Group is holding a flower show in the St Anne’s Church Hall on Saturday and Sunday, highlighting spring bulbs, plants and flowers and featuring Kate Gregory from Moyness Garden Centre who will give a demonstration of floral art and flower arranging on Saturday afternoon.
And mixed media artist Roz ArnoButton will be exhibiting her new work inspired by the winter landscape at the Potting Shed studio at Easter Balgersho over the weekend.
The exhibition will also feature a gigantic snowdrop made from willow, snowdrops and other spring flowers created by garden designer Helen Carmichael.
Local crafters at the High Street Store at the Cross in the town will be running free introductory workshops on spinning, Viking wire knitting and painting on slate over the weekend.
Continuing the arts theme, Glenislabased artist Frances Law is looking to further develop her Coupar Burn project that she undertook last year.
Frances was joined by members of the Coupar Angus community and the committee of the Strathmore Arts Festival in an ‘archaeological investigation’ into the Coupar Burn.
An interesting collection of objects were found including Victorian spoons, clay pipes, an assortment of old bottles and jars, children’s toys, mobile phones, crockery and much more and Frances displayed the collection of objects at the University of Dundee as part of her research for her Masters in Art, Society and Publics at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.
The project caught the attention of the education officer and curators at Perth Museum and Art Gallery who invited Frances to show her display this summer alongside treasures which have been found in the River Tay.
Frances is hoping to make a short film about the Coupar Burn and during the festival will be collecting stories and memories from local people about it.
Anyone who would like to see what has been found in the Burn and has a story to share about it or items they may have lost or found is most welcome to visit Frances upstairs at the Y Hall on Union Street. She will be there from 11am until 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The community garden group in Coupar Angus is also involved in the Snowdrop Festival this year, offering revitalising and rejuvenating activities.
On Saturday morning, members of the group will have a stall outside the High Street Store from noon until 2pm where they will be offering people a chance to sample healthy snacks, shakes and smoothies as well as short, free massages and treatments.
And then at 2pm there will be a gentle meditation walk from the shop to the community garden where there will be a short introduction to meditation with experienced practitioner Madelaine Thorley.
All ages are welcome on the walk although booking is required. Please contact 07833 938536 to secure a place.
The High Street Store workshops are as follows: Friday - Painting on slate, 11am-1pm, and spinning wool, 1pm-3pm; Saturday - Viking wire knit, 11am-1pm and spinning wool, 1pm3pm; Sunday - Painting on slate, 10amnoon, and Viking wire knit, noon-2pm.
Please contact Maggie Langelaan on ma.langelaan@gmail.com to book a space.