BELTANE week is back!

Here's some important information from the organisers regarding the events...

Beltane Boogie: The ever popular Beltane Boogie has been organised once again and will take place in the MacFarlane Hall on Saturday, June 17 between 10.30am and 12pm. This event is for very young children.

School Flags: The Beltane committee is always looking for ways to enhance our street decorations and this year the decorations convenor has commissioned new flags to adorn the flag poles at the West end of the High Street opposite the Parish Church steps. The new flags depict one of each of the crest of our Peebles Schools.

Preparing Peebles for Beltane appeal to the public: Beltane is fast approaching and arrangements are being finalised so the festival goes well for all concerned. 

Part of the planning is the setting up of road closures and diversions and the committee is assisted in this task by members of Scottish Borders Council.

It has been identified that a time where council staff have most problem is the setting out of the safety barriers on Beltane Friday afternoon. 

This does cause some disruption in the High Street area but it is necessary to start laying the barriers in the early afternoon to allow them to be completely laid out and importantly connected to one another in time. 

No doubt some motorists think that as the parade is in the early evening it is ok to keep parking in the High Street while this process is ongoing; however this causes massive problems to the workmen. 

The workmen have also informed the committee that some motorists think it is ok to shout, swear and abuse them for doing their job. Please just show a little respect and refrain from doing so. 

As everyone is aware there are car parks at both ends of the street so please just use them for Beltane Friday and Saturday or better still just leave the car at home. 

There are temporary traffic regulation orders in force for the duration of the festival, the details of which can be found on the council website.

These orders allow the police to take enforcement action against motorists who flaunt the local instructions but hopefully common sense will prevail and such action will not be necessary. 

The council also greatly assist the committee in cleaning up the town after one event and before the next, this entails squads of men turning out at very unsocial hours for the benefit of the town and the committee is greatly appreciative of them.

Beating Retreat: With the appreciated support from Nemesis equipment Ltd, the Beltane Committee has been fortunate indeed to secure the services of Tweedvale Pipe Band and St Ronans silver band.

These bands often play together and they are always up for putting on a show at Peebles, we are sure we will not be disappointed.

Decorated shops and houses competitions: The committee is hopeful that as many as possible will join the decorated shops and houses competitions. These are separate competitions which greatly enhance the town during Beltane. 

Persons wishing to enter must notify the judge Mr G. Mackison, J Mackison and Son. 44 Edderston Road, Peebles in writing by 12noon on Beltane Tuesday and have their respective shops or houses ready for judging by 12 noon on Beltane Wednesday.

Cornet’s Walk: The committee is once again appealing to the public to participate in the Cornet’s walk. The Beltane queen is taken home and the Cornet is taken to his party venue at the conclusion of the Beltane Concert which will be about 9.30pm.

Anyone attending the cornets party should make an effort to attend and join in, the more the merrier, after all this was and should be the prelim to the Cornet’s party. 

The route this year will go from the Burgh Hall by way of Eastgate, Baths Brae and over Fotheringham Bridge, Kingmeadows Road to the Queens house at Kittlegary.

The band will return by Kingmeadows Road, Tweed Bridge, High Street to the Cornets party venue in the Ex Servicemens Club.

Children’s Disco: As is usual practice the Children’s Disco on Beltane Monday evening will be split into two parts, the earlier for the younger children and the later part of the evening for the older children.

The primary 3 to 5 children should attend the disco at the community centre Walkershaugh between 6pm and 7.15pm and primary 6 to 7 children should attend between 7.30pm and 9pm. Entrance to the disco is free and each child will receive free juice and crisps.

Parents please note that the Beltane committee and assistants will be on duty to assist and run the event, however they are not at liberty to imprison children within the hall for the duration of the event, they are on duty to safely run the disco and maintain as much order as can be expected at a children’s disco, they are not responsible for baby-sitting.

Parents must take responsibility for briefing their children as to behaviour expected and as to whether they should leave the hall to walk home by themselves as many are instructed to do by their parents.

Parents will be welcome to assist in stewarding the discos or if any wish to wait in the vicinity of the disco they are welcome to do so.