Centenary festival organisers are asking Grant Park 100 attendees to dress up in outfits from bygone eras
LOCAL festival attendees are being encouraged to dress up in outfits of bygone eras available in the town’s charity shops.
The organisers of Grant Park 100 - on Saturday, August 24 - are asking everyone going along to wear outfits representing a decade from the 1920s to the current day, to celebrate ten decades since the site was gifted to the community by landowner and the inventor of the digestive biscuit, Sir Alexander Grant.
Publicist Claire Doughty confirmed the town’s five charity shops and Moray Waste Busters will have Grant Park 100 rails of period clothing to help with options and inspiration.
She said: “Fancy dress competitions have been a huge part of events in Grant Park over the years during gala weeks, and over the past 100 years visitors have worn a huge range of styles and fashions so it’s fitting we make this an element of Grant Park 100.
“It could be as simple as popping on a peaky blinders newsboy cap … Or going all out dressed in full flower power sixties gear!”
The organisers recently held an event for volunteers who will be leading at Grant Park 100 - in costume.
“It was a great evening,” said Claire. “Folk dressed up in a number of styles from land girls to flower-power. Doug Cowie, who will be sharing the compere role with Paul Matheson, came dressed as Scottish athlete Eric Liddell who took part in the 1924 Olympics and was depicted in the 1980s film ‘Chariots of Fire’.
“Ainsley James, who is co-ordinating the volunteers, was dressed in an original late 1920s/early 1930s outfit which belonged to her grandmother.”
All the town’s five charity shops and Moray Waste Busters have agreed to help, and over the next few weeks will have Grant Park 100 rails to help inspire those who want to have a bit of period dress fun.
The charity shops and Waste Busters are encouraging anyone with fancy dress costumes or clothing that is no longer needed to drop it off at their premises for their GP100 rails.
Mairi Skivington is manager of the Highland Hospice shop which will dress a special GP100 window.
She said: “The event sounds like it’s going to be a great day out - encouraging people to get dressed up will only add to the fun.
“We are delighted to support this and will do our best to make sure the people of Forres have the chance to get kitted out for August 24.”
Grant Park 100 is an event for all the family with early bird tickets already on sale. Two arenas which will stage a mini-highland games with a twist, gun dog, sheep and falconry displays, the Forres and District Pipe Band and a car cavalcade from throughout the decades.
At 3pm, attendees will be encouraged to help create what may well be Moray’s biggest happy birthday singalong to mark the anniversary of the park being gifted.
There will also be an interactive science tent set up by AES Solar and the T-Exchange, and two marquees with stalls, displays of the entries to competitions, demonstrations and talks.
A music stage will be set up in the floral gardens with entertainment throughout the day.
For more information, visit www.grantpark100.com
