About Strathspey in May
May 2011
Community events are to the fore once again as Strathspey celebrates May and the start of the summer months. Many of the events will raise funds for local groups, so organisers are hoping they will be well supported.
On Friday 29th April for those that weren’t invited to the Royal Wedding, there is a Bingo Tea 7pm at Royal British legion, Grantown in aid of the town’s Lawn Tennis Club.
For something more spine-tingling, try the ghostly tour of Grantown on Saturday 30th April at 9pm. As daylight fades, the Grantown Players will entertain with a series of creepy tales of the supernatural. Tickets £2.50 per person, and the fun will go ahead rain or shine so please dress for the weather. Any children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet outside the museum, opposite the Burnfield Road car park at 9pm.
If you only like spirits when they come from a bottle, you should try “Wonderful World of Whisky” with David Wishart at Muckrach Lodge 7pm the same evening, part of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. Tickets £41pp available from 01479 851 257.
Also on Saturday 30th in the Ben Mhor Hotel there is a Race Night in aid of Raigmore Renal Unit 7.30pm. Tickets for £10 including meal and dance are available from the Ben Mhor or call Alison 01807 510206.
On Sunday 1st May a Cairngorms Farmers Market takes place in Grantown Square from 10am to 4pm. To get things swinging, there will be live music performances by PACE and Sound Start Plus youth bands.
On the same day Feis Spe will hold a day of activities and tuition for Primary 1-7 children, including group work for a junior band which will perform at 4pm. The tuition is in Grantown Grammar School from 10:15am to 4:30pm with a Community Ceilidh starting at 4pm. Children must be pre-booked for the classes -- see www.feisspe.org.uk
Inverallan Parish Church celebrates its 125th Anniversary with a Service at 10.30am, all welcome.
And in the evening there is a Glenfarclas Dinner at Craggan Mill Restaurant, Craggan Mill, Grantown 7pm as part of Spirit of Speyside Whisky festival. Please book on 01479 872 288 - - see www.spiritofspeyside.com
On Wednesday 4th May Grantown on Spey Folk Club will be meeting for a tune or two in The Garth Hotel 9pm. Free entry - all welcome to watch or play.
On Saturday 7th May there is a Table Top Sale at St Columbas Church Hall 10-12.30 and 1-3.30pm and on Sunday 8th May Les Jeudistes, a vocal group from Olargues, France conducted by Christopher Campbell-Howes and accompanied by Christine Charpiin will perform a programme of European sacred music, folksongs from the Languedoc, and settings from Shakespeare in St Columba's Episcopal Church, Grantown on Spey at 7.30pm. Admission free, and there will be a retiring collection in aid of organ fund.
Strathspey in May began in 2001 as a music festival, with concerts and workshops, and in later years it grew into a community event celebrating local culture. After 10 years at the helm, the outgoing committee is hoping to find some new volunteers to take on the challenge and create the 2012 festival.