Precautions were taken last night to ensure that the show at the Hebridean Celtic Festival would go on – despite a gale battering the site at Stornoway.
A lorry was improvised as a windbreak as 35 knots winds raced straight up the harbour, threatening to slam into two large marquees where thousands of music fans were enjoying dozens of performances.
Shops have ordered twice as much food and supplies as usual as the town’s population doubles this week.
The influx of visitors means hotels, guest houses and the campsites are packed out during festival week and an annual appeal was made for local residents to make spare rooms or beds available.
The main performances are sold out with about 15,000 tickets snapped up for the four-day event, which is worth around £1million to the local economy every year.
During the day, hundreds of people are enjoying a feast of outdoor entertainment from Highland dancers, pipers in Stornoway town centre.
Fringe events include a raft of concerts, circus busking events and a shinty challenge match.
Brian Hurren, of Gaelic rock legends, Runrig, who are headlining the festival’s 21st celebrations this season, was nursing a sore throat.
He hoped it would improve for tonight’s (Sat) homecoming finale which is going to be an “incredible gig“ for the band, coming after their momentous year.
He added: “Its just the icing on the cake.”
“The atmosphere here is electric. You can feel it going through the whole town.”
There is such an “amazing buzz” about the event and there is “no festival like it.”
Festival director, Murdo Maclennan, said: “It’s the 21st festival. We’re celebrating a milestone in its history and we’re pretty much sold out in most performances this year.
“The weather is turning so we have taken a few precautions.”