Moray is the place to be with a busy weekend of events set to take place throughout the region.
Grant Park in Forres is the centre of attention for the third successive week. Hot on the heels of the Armed Forces Day celebrations and 20,000 spectators turning out for the European Pipe Band championships, the park will ring out again to pipes and drums as the annual Highland Games takes place.
The games will begin at 12.30pm after a parade down the High Street by the RAF Lossiemouth Pipe Band.
Games secretary Mike Scott said: “The games this year will feature senior and junior heavy events, massed pipe bands, Highland dancing and track and cycling events.
“There will be open junior and senior piping and a tug o’ war, while those attending will find a large number of stalls to browse between events.”
Meanwhile in Lossiemouth the first Seafest is being held in what is hoped will become an annual event in the town.
Seafest is being billed as a food fayre and family fun day, with stalls along the seafront at the town’s east beach and harbour area. A spokesman said: “Along with the wide variety of stalls that are due to be exhibiting at Seafest, we are delighted to be welcoming the RNLI Lifeboat into the Harbour, Taster Sailing Sessions by Moray Firth Water Sports & a visit from the Sea King.
“Alongside all of this there will also be an exhibition at the Fisheries Museum – it certainly is going to be a fun packed day and we look forward to seeing you all there!” Seafest is set to open up at 11am.
A nautical theme also marks the day in Burghead, where a Homecoming event is being held to celebrate the town’s fishing heritage.
That will include a visit from herring drifter ‘The Reaper’, built in Fraserburgh in 1902, and the Moray Inshore Rescue launch. Activities around the Harbour on Saturday will include Paella on the Pier and a Hog Roast while two bands will provide music throughout the day.
Children will be entertained through storytelling, face painting and fishing-related races – alongside the mandatory bouncy castle.