Haddington Festival set to return this summer

The staple of the town’s social calendar has been cancelled or scaled back the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, with restrictions easing, organisers are busy working behind the scenes to ensure the town has something to celebrate this summer.

Volunteer members of Haddington Events Group have already met, with a view to the festival taking place from May 28 to June 8.

Chris McEwan, chairman of Haddington’s community council, is involved with the Edinburgh and Lothians Mini Owners Club, which was regularly part of the festival’s fun day in Neilson Park.

Haddington Festival fancy dress parade

He told the Courier that work had started to plan the festival, with various events already pencilled in.

Mr McEwan stressed the importance of the annual event and said: “The festival is our gateway to the summer.

“It is something that has been traditional since 1968.

“It is a chance for the town to see and do things together, a chance for businesses to take part just like the Christmas window competition, get people round the town, and it is a chance to showcase our town to the greater country and to invite people along.

“When I did the car show, we had people from all over Scotland coming with cars. That brought in tourism, visitors, but at the end of the day, for me, it is giving families and the kids a good day out.”

The week-long Haddington Festival is a central point of the town’s summer celebrations.

Preparations are under way for the festival fun day in Neilson Park and a number of vendors have been approached.

The Haddington Festival is usually one of the highlights of the town's events calendar

A shop window competition, organised by Haddington Business Community Partnership (HBCP), is also being planned.

Regular features of the festival week, including a quiz night, bingo night and boat race, are all being planned as well.

A tree could also be planted at the end of the festival to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

One challenge facing organisers is the lack of a central venue, as refurbishment works take place at Haddington Town House and the nearby Corn Exchange is used by NHS Lothian as a Covid-19 vaccination centre.

That could see the traditional pet show become an online event.

Mr McEwan was hoping to overcome as many hurdles as possible to ensure that the town was celebrating this summer.

He said: “We are hoping the fun day is going to be as traditional as possible, with a fun fair and car show.

“It is all going to be dependent on who is going to come along.

“I very much doubt we are going to have as many Covid restrictions to scupper us.

“The programme will be delivered out to everybody in round about May.”