Less than three weeks to go till this year's Comet Festival
A fantastic line-up of free, fun, family friendly events has been put together for this year’s specially extended Comet Festival.
The event will take place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June at Coronation Park, Port Glasgow.
It has been extended to two-days this year to celebrate Port Glasgow's 250th anniversary.
The event will begin with a parade at 11.30am on Saturday morning, led by samba band Bloco Winnoch in front of a procession of floats, through the town to Coronation Park where the festival will start at 12noon.
The park itself will have many of the attractions enjoyed every year at the Comet Festival including a funfair all weekend, a tea tent and bar and beer garden.
Cultural services have created a Port Glasgow Dungeons & Dragons game with sessions on Saturday. There will also be a poetry workshop and walking tours.
Historic Environment Scotland are offering free entry to nearby Newark Castle on the Saturday and Sunday and Archaeology Scotland will be on site with an excavatable shipwreck model for kids to explore.
New Port Theatre Company is running theatre workshops, New Port Church will have children’s arts and crafts, the Scouts will have soft axe throwing and Rope, Spoke & Paddle will be letting children make some smores treats.
Beacon Arts Centre will offer come-and-try circus skills while football daft boys and girls will take part in a popular football tournament.
A live music stage will keep the crowds entertained all day while there is a host of community stalls and traders to browse. Sea Cadets will be running popular boat trips on the Clyde.
On Sunday, the Port Glasgow 10k makes a welcome return to the park at 11am, there will be football training for youngsters and a Praise in the Park service coordinated run by the Salvation Army from 2.30pm to 3.30pm.
Pictures in the Park will have three films showing on a large outdoor screen: Moana 2 from 1pm till 2.40pm; Sonic 3 from 3pm till 4.50pm and a Wicked Sing-a-long from 5.10pm till 7.50pm. Screenings are free.
Provost Drew McKenzie said: “The Comet Festival is always a fantastic event for the community of Port Glasgow and this year will be even better.
“This is a fantastic line-up of events and activities for people of all ages and interests to enjoy. Entry to the park is free on both days so I would urge people to make a weekend of it and take it all in.
“This is a special year for Port Glasgow with the 250th anniversary and this year’s Comet Festival really celebrates that.”
The origins of Port Glasgow date back to the late sixteenth century when the authorities in Glasgow purchased land by the village of Newark to establish a port for the city.
The Port Glasgow (Improvement) Act 1775 defined the burgh’s municipal responsibilities and its authority to raise duty.
The Act was passed on 22 May 1775 and Port Glasgow was born.
For the latest on all the Port Glasgow 250 activities, check out the Discover Inverclyde website, link on this page.