Countdown under way to Tranent's annual gala celebrations

A week of fun activities gets under way on Saturday as civic week kicks off ahead of the Tranent Gala parade next Saturday.

The week will begin with a best decorated house competition on Saturday, judged from 2pm by the town’s gala committee and St Martin’s Men’s Group.

The crowning ceremony for this year’s queen, Niamh Ritchie, takes place at the Loch Centre from 11.30am on Sunday, before gala day celebrations take place noon-4pm at Ross High playing fields.

A week of fun activities follows in the build up to the parade, as an exhibition of Tranent’s history in photographs is on display 4-8pm at Tranent Parish Church on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

A pet show, hosted by Dunedin Veterinary Care, is at 6pm on Wednesday, with a walking football tournament from 6.30pm to 9pm at Foresters Park and a dominos competition (£3) at The Tranent Arms from 8pm.

Next Thursday, a teddy bears’ picnic takes place at Tranent Library at 11am, before a gala quiz (£10 per team of six) takes place at East Lothian Co-operative Bowling Club at 8pm.

Tranent FC will host a parents and coaches football tournament next Friday at Foresters Park from 6.30pm to 9pm.

Next Saturday, a gala bowling competition takes place at Tranent Bowling Club at 10am.

Tranent Gala court 2024

The fancy dress competition at Caponhall Road takes place at 5pm, before the gala parade sets off at 6pm.

Derek Ross, chair of the gala committee, said efforts had been made to make this year’s gala bigger and better than ever.

He said: “It should be another great week of activities; hopefully we get the good weather.

“We’ve got more rides than ever coming on Saturday and it will be like a mini theme park for the kids, which should be great.

“We just keep doing our best to keep making the gala a wee bit bigger and better each year.

“There’s lots for everyone and I’d just like to encourage as many people as possible to come along to the parade at the end of the week as well.

“The more folk involved, the better it is.”

Tranent Gala queen Niamh Ritchie and consort Riley-James Preston

Meanwhile, Centre Stage will put on a show celebrating 45 years of the theatre group on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Loch Centre at 7pm, with tickets costing £7.

The group will take a trip down memory lane, performing some favourite routines of the past including the group’s very first show in 1979.

Mags Foster, secretary, said: “We’re really looking forward to another year of our show, and this one is quite special, looking back at Centre Stage shows over the years. We’ve all had a lot of fun doing some of the dances and performances from our childhood. Centre Stage has been such a big thing for me over the years, it really helped me as a teenager and so many of the kids who have come through have gone on to do theatre or acting as a job.”

She paid tribute to the group’s founder Isa Thomson, who remains involved with Centre Stage.

“Isa has been there from the start and has done such a grand job,” said Mags. “Her work over the years has been incredible and we are all so grateful.

“It really is like a family here and we all do our part so thanks to all the team.”

Tickets are on sale now from the Loch Centre and Sarah Brown Hairdressers.