The fifth Inverness Street festival kicked off in the city centre today with a host of top street performers entertaining the crowds.
Returning for the fifth year to show off their latest shopping trolley dance routines are Inverness’s favourites, Granny Turismo, an act which has been running since 2009 and now performs across Europe.
The festival will take place in the Victorian Market, High Street, Falcon Square and Eastgate Centre, before coming to a close at the end of tomorrow afternoon.
Other acts include international balloon modeller, Pop, who will be resident in the Victorian Market. Families are being challenged to hunt to find his fabulous balloon creations.
And the a trio of Tanzanian acrobats, Afrikan Warriors, are gracing the festival for the first time.
There will also be a street comedian and escapologist as well as the TNT Youth Street Band, performing on Saturday with an explosive collaboration of brass, reeds, street drumming and attitude.
This year’s event is supported by Homecoming Scotland and a variety of Gaelic acts will be performing. This comes during the Royal National Mod, which is in Inverness for the first time in 17 years.
It is jointly funded by Inverness Business Improvement District (Bid), Eastgate Centre, Inverness Common Good Fund and Homecoming Scotland.
Jackie Cuddy, Eastgate Centre manager, said: “Eastgate retailers are very excited about the return of the ‘grannies’ as well as the acts new to Inverness. We are delighted to be supporting this event again this year as the Festival continues to grow as does the quality of the acts performing at it.”
Marjory from Granny Turismo said: “It’s our fifth time here but feels just as fresh as the first. It’s lovely to be back here with our friends in Inverness. In fact, I would say Inverness is our most popular city in the UK. It’s our favourite place because we come every year.”
Mike Smith, Bid manager, said: “The Inverness Street Festival offers three days of madness, mayhem and fun encouraging people to come to the city centre and be entertained in the wider retail area. We are particularly delighted that the event is again supported by the Inverness Common Good Fund and this year has attracted funding from Homecoming Scotland.”
