Tickets for joint anniversary celebration events to be held by Portsoy 75 Club and Portsoy Thrift Shop are now on sale.

Events take place on Friday 29th & Saturday 30th August in Portsoy and are being held to bring the community together in celebration and to give thanks for their continued support of both organisations. 

Vikings from Shetland’s Up Helly Aa Squads will visit Portsoy especially for the anniversary weekend, which promises a programme of entertainment to engage the whole family.

Celebrations kick off with a night of live music from Mustang at the Tattie Sheds on the evening of Friday 29th August.  This event is for Over 18s only, with a licenced bar.  Tickets £15 plus booking fee are available to buy online now.

A Gala Day at Loch Soy on Saturday 30th August from 12noon – 5pm will bring together local groups and organisations offering a range of fun actvities, as well as bouncy inflatables, face painting, storytelling from Doric Books, experiements with Aberdeen Science Centre, rowing on Loch Soy with Portsoy Coastal Rowing Club and much more.  Entertainment will be provided by Deveron FM, Anne McArthur Highland Dancers, Skip 2 the Beat, Portsoy 75 Club Choir, Banffshire Community Band, Folk at the Salmon Bothy and Portsoy Pipe Band. Catering will be provided by Sarah’s Burger Shack, Portsoy Scouts who will be selling kippers and Cullen Skink kindly donated by Messrs J Smith, and Cancer Reaserch UK Portsoy who return to offer their renowned freshly made doughnuts.

The Vikings will lead a Torchlit Procession at 6.30pm on Saturday evening, joined by Portsoy, Buckie and Strathisla Pipe Bands.  Members of the public are invited to join the procession from the Tattie Sheds to the Old Harbour.  A galley, specially built by pupils and staff from Banff Academy and boat builders from Cullen Sea School, with support from Portsoy Men’s Shed members, will be set alight by the torches as a grand finale. A limited number of authentic Up Helly Aa torches are available for sale for torch bearers who wish to take part in the Procession, priced at £12 plus booking fee.  Members of the public are welcome to join the procession to walk the route following the procession free of charge. 

Saturday evening will culminate with a lively family friendly Viking ceilidh at the Tattie Sheds, dancing to Galik Bred ceilidh band.  A licenced bar will be available for Over 18s. Tickets are on sale now priced £10 + booking fee for adults over 18, £5 for children aged 5-17 years, while under 5s go free.