Thousands of people turned out to watch Ellon’s spectacular fireworks display at the weekend.
After a week of upset over the future of the town’s Christmas-light switch on, the community rallied together for an early Guy Fawkes celebration.
A huge bonfire, adorned with eight guys made by youngsters from local primary schools, was lit at 6.30pm and cast a bright orange glow among the families as they wandered at Gordon Park.
Fairground rides and a football shoot-out kept visitors young and old entertained as they waited for the first firework to light up the sky.
And just after 7.30pm, orange, pink, green bursts shot up and marked the start of a 15-minute show.
Other crowd-pleasers including long, white fireworks which soared through the dark sky, scattering in different directions.
Gold and purple explosions, and bursts of red also delighted the crowd. A huge gold explosion, with red bursts showering down over the bonfire brought the show to a close.
There was also an added bonus for some hawk-eyed football fans, who managed to get pictures with Dons favourites Graeme Shinnie, Jonny Hayes and Mark Reynolds after spotting them in the crowd with their families.
The fireworks are organised annually by the Ellon and District Round Table, which brought them back after a decade-long absence in 2011.
Last night chairman George Stewart said the efforts of the group – which currently only has four members – had paid off, with lots of compliments about the show by Inverurie-based Fireworx Scotland.
“It was good, we’re just counting up the donations we took at the gates so hopefully we’ll have a bit to put to our charity side of things,” he said.
“Everything went really well, we estimated there were about 4,000 people there.
“We’ve had loads of comments on the night saying it was a really good show, and a stream of Facebook comments along those lines too.
“After all the comments online last week about what a shambles Ellon is after it looked like the Christmas light-switch on was cancelled, I think this has proven them wrong.”
Last week, it emerged the town’s Christmas celebrations were in jeopardy after the community council disbanded due to a lack of numbers. However, Aberdeenshire Council has since committed to ensure the light switch-on goes ahead after teaming up with other groups and businesses.
And Mr Stewart urged anyone willing to spread the festive cheer further, by helping with the round table’s annual Santa sleigh and collection to come forward.
The Ellon and District Round Table is appealing for new members to come forward. To get involved, or to find out more, call Mr Stewart on 07731 560837, visit their website or take a look at their Facebook page.
