Big plans for East Calder Gala
East Calder is getting set for their ‘biggest and best ever’ gala day, with a week of celebrations planned for this summer culminating in a music festival.
The gala week was planned to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2020, but due to pandemic restrictions was not able to go ahead in 2020 and 2021.
Centenary celebrations will begin on Sunday, June 5, with a lunch in honour of the Queen’s platinum jubilee in the Dave King Partnership Centre car park.
The week will conclude with a gala day on Saturday, June 11, which promises face painters, inflatables, pony rides, a magic show, fun races, and other activities.
Organiser’s promise an epic finale in the evening, with their very own music festival ‘Music on the Muddies’ which promises to showcase six local bands, complete with a licensed outside bar.
Entry is free and the bar will be in its own fenced-off area restricted to 500 over 18s, but families and younger groups can watch the festival in a large space outside the bar.
The week of revelry has been scheduled by organisers.
Monday will be a football evening for boys and girls.
Tuesday will be a children’s sports day, including heats, finals races, and the marathon.
Wednesday features a fancy dress competition at East Calder Primary as well as long jump and high jump in the park, while a ‘Grand Festival’ run by local organisations and registered charities will also take place on Wednesday.
Thursday is the Gala Quiz at The Village on Oakbank Road, while Friday will host the coronation ceremony, crowning the gala queen who was picked last November.
Eddy Goodfellow, an organiser of the East Calder Gala week said: “We had everything ready to go for the centenary in 2020, but then COVID hit.
“Then with the restrictions we couldn’t go ahead last year either but we got the nod in February and we’ve been getting things ready since.
“It’s our 100th gala day, and it’s going to be the biggest and best one yet. We are grateful to all the local businesses, institutions, and members of the public for their generous financial assistance towards our gala.”