More than 100 bands will converge on Moray for an international celebration of the bagpipes next month.
Piping At Forres – the north of Scotland’s only major Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association event – will take place on Saturday, June 27, in the town’s Grant Park.
The annual European Pipe Band Championships competition will feature in a field of 105 entrants which includes 11 grade one bands.
Most will be Scottish, however, countries including Belgium, England, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will also be represented.
Defending the title of 2014 grade one European champions will be Inveraray and District Pipe Band.
The event’s chieftain will be Mark Laing, of Dunphail Estate, whose great-grandfather, Sir Alexander Grant, gave Grant Park to the town of Forres.
Mr Laing said: “The Grant Park is a magnificent location for this event, and I am sure that my great-grandfather would have been thrilled to know that his gift to Forres is staging such a prestigious competition.”
Visitors will also get the chance to get up close and personal with the pipes and drums in the event’s education centre, take part in the third World Tattie Scone Championship, or sample an array of food, retail and charity stalls around the park.
Youngsters can also enjoy a funfair, bouncy castle and other inflatables, while adults will have a choice of five beer tents – or a new addition for 2015, the Drouthy Cobbler’s Scottish Gin Bar.
Competition organisers Forres Events Ltd hope the gathering, now in its third year, will attract crowds of up to 20,000.
Ian Widdowson, Chairman of Forres Events Ltd, said: “Everything is in place to make this a great event for Moray for 2015.
“It’s fantastic to see over 100 bands in for the competition — 11 of those amongst the top in the world — and such a great spread across the grades.
“And it is specially heartening to see so many school and novice and junior bands coming to Forres – the grade ones of the future. It all makes for a great mix and a great atmosphere.”