Thousands of residents and visitors took to the streets of Lanark as Lanimer Day celebrations got into full swing yesterday.
The event is one of the year’s most highly anticipated in the whole of Lanarkshire and the happy faces on show throughout the day proved exactly why that is.
The streets were awash with every colour of the rainbow as the traditional Lanimer Queen’s State Procession got underway in the morning.
This year’s Queen, Chloe Robertson who is a pupil at Kirkfieldbank Primary, looked fantastic in her fabulous gown as she was crowned in the ceremony later in the afternoon.
The weather was fine, and the sun was shining as the afternoon procession featuring a host of bands and lorries, with participants dressed to the nines in fantastically imaginative costumes, then snaked through the thronged streets on the short route from Ladyacre Road to Castlegate.
Fascinated onlookers took up every available vantage point to get the best view, with many looking on from their windows above the crowds at street level.
Dozens of riders then took part in the Lord Cornet’s Equestrian Rideout as the horses trotted off from Delves Park.
Meanwhile, over at Castlebank Park the festivities had begun at 11am with DJs and live music entertaining the crowds there. There was also a family fun zone with a magician, face painting, arts and crafts, and a mini-zoo.
Beaming children also enjoyed the mini-fair and giant inflatables, as well as ice-cream and soft drinks, while adults were able to enjoy some refreshments of their own in a giant beer garden.
The celebrations went on late into the afternoon with presentations to the Lanimer Queen before the Lord Cornet, Ross Fitzgerald, and Ex-Lord Cornets were led in procession by the Massed Pipe Bands down the High Street to the Cross.
Evening events included a display by North Lanarkshire School’s Pipe Band before a Lone Piper’s Lament preceded the finale and march off as the Vice Lieutenant of Lanarkshire, Gavin Whitefield CBE, took the salute.
For lots more fantastic pictures from the Lanimer Day celebrations pick up a copy of next week's Lanark & Carluke Advertiser.
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