MUSSELBURGH is set to welcome back its annual festival after a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Taking centre stage at the event, which runs from Saturday to next Saturday (July 30), are the 2022 Honest Lad Jack McFarlane and Honest Lass Amy Rooke, who will be accompanied on their official duties by attendant Abby Pickles.
Dating back to 1936, the week-long annual celebration honours the traditions of the town and brings the community together.
Events will get under way with the Kirkin’ ceremony on Sunday. The community service will be held at St Michael’s Church, Inveresk, at 11am. This will be preceded by a procession of parliamentary and council representatives, past Honest Lads and Honest Lasses, community groups and organisations which will leave the town hall in Musselburgh bound for St Michael’s via Newbigging.
The service will be followed by an act of remembrance at the war memorial outside the church, where Jack and Amy will lay the traditional anchor wreath.
Well-known Musselburgh resident Alastair Knowles, Town Champion at the Riding of the Marches in 1995 and chairman of the 2016 Riding of the Marches board, has the honour of being this year’s sasher at the sashing ceremony on the banks of the River Esk at 1.30pm following the Kirkin’.
He will present Jack and Amy with their emblems of office.
The Burgh Flag will be presented to Jack by the Honorary Provost who will task him to carry the standard around the boundaries of the town, returning it “unsullied and unstained” at the end of the Festival Saturday ride on July 30.
Amy will be presented with the jewelled riding crop and Abby will be presented with a silver stock pin.
The Crusaders Chase is always one of the highlights of the festival
A festival highlight is the Crusaders’ Chase on Monday, which sees spectators gather at the Roman Bridge to watch the riders and horses, led by Crusaders’ Riding Club captain Gary Neill, cross the River Esk. The club charter is read during the flag-raising ceremony at the harbour following the beach gallop.
The junior ride is planned for Tuesday, leaving Inveresk Industrial Estate at 5pm. Riders will head via The Mall, Bridge Street, Fisher’s Wynd and New Street before arriving at Fisherrow Harbour.
The ride will then proceed along the Promenade, Mountjoy, Eskside West, Millhill, Linkfield Road and is due to go along High Street at about 7pm.
The Honest Lad and Honest Lass will receive gifts from local businesses and organisations at the presentation night at Eskmills Function Suite from 7pm on Wednesday.
The anniversaries of the diamond, golden and silver jubilee Honest Lads and Honest Lasses are also celebrated.
The festival fancy dress parade will take place next Friday (July 29). Lorries should assemble at Ashgrove at about 6.15pm for judging to begin at 6.30pm. Pedestrians and cyclists should assemble in Loretto RC Playing Fields (access by King Street) for judging at 6.15pm.
The parade will move off from Pinkie Road at 7pm and head down Newbigging, turning left onto High Street.
After crossing the bridge, participants will proceed along Bridge Street and North High Street before turning right down Harbour Road onto New Street towards Fisherrow Links, where they will disperse.
Climax of festival week
Festival Saturday on July 30 is the climax of festival week, when the community gathers to see the Honest Lad carry the Burgh Flag around the town boundaries in celebration of a tradition that dates back many centuries.
Members of the official party, led by the chief marshal, will move off from Balcarres Road, making its way to Pinkie House for the traditional scroll presentation.
At 9am they will ride out of the gates of Pinkie House to be met by the rest of the cavalcade, accompanied by the town band, local councillors, guests and Border visitors.
The annual festival family fun day takes place at Musselburgh Racecourse from 1.30pm to 6pm following the rideout.
Radio Saltire will be broadcasting live and the Musselburgh-based Clark Community Choir will welcome visitors arriving at 1.30pm before performing later in the day. There will be live music from the Lost Boys and Funk Wagen in the Loretto lawn marquee.
Brass and pipe bands will perform and there will be free pony rides, shows, bouncy castles, facepainting and inflatables. Well-known mascots will pay the event a visit and there will be a soft play area, magician, children’s races and traditional games.
Adults can enjoy a licensed bar as well as mobile Prosecco and gin bars.
There will be a number of food vendors and a mini shopping market featuring local businesses and crafts. Visitors can also take along their own picnic to the picnic pavilion.
Free tickets are required for entry: visit bit.ly/3uuK4e9
A variety of other events are being held to mark festival week, including: a bowling competition on Saturday at Musselburgh Municipal Bowling Green; tea dance in Northesk Church Hall from 2pm next Thursday (July 28), with afternoon tea served by past Honest Lasses; a concert, led by Caroline Grant, Honest Lass in 1986, featuring a variety of local talent at Northesk Church next Thursday – the evening of entertainment is directed by Julie Robinson, Honest Lass 2011, and is suitable for all ages; the festival ball next Saturday (July 30), with the chance to dance the night away to Fahrenheit Function Band after a meal in Venue 1 at the Brunton Hall; festival football is on Tuesday at Olivebank Stadium from 6.30pm, which will see local teams compete for The John White Memorial Trophy.
Visit musselburghfestival.org for more information on all events.
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