Throughout the week, businesses, organisations and residents are invited to dress their windows, workspaces, homes and gardens in the spirit of Beltane. From bold displays and festival-related themes to imaginative details that celebrate the Beltane and the awarding of Principal positions, these decorations help transform Peebles into a vibrant festival town for everyone to enjoy.

Whether you’re a shop owner, an office team, a keen gardener or a household ready to get creative, taking part is a wonderful way to support the festival, showcase your flair and add to the magic of Beltane Week. Winners will be judged during the week, with prizes awarded to standout displays in each category.

Special Beltane shop window displays attract potential customers to your premises, and are greatly appreciated by the local community, by visitors, by returning exiles, and by the Beltane Committee. Decorating shop windows, re-painting shop and office fronts, and hanging flags and bunting, ~ all enhance the image of our town.

Each year the Beltane Festival Committee is encouraged by the number of shops and offices which decorate their premises and window displays for Beltane Week. Many also participate in the contest for the Best Decorated Shop. Of course, it is not just the contest that counts, ~ although it is good to take part, and great to win, ~ but surely what counts more is entering into the spirit of Beltane and showing your interest and support. If your shop has not participated before, why not let your staff show their imagination and flair, ~ you could be pleasantly surprised.

The shop which is judged to have the best display is awarded the Maharajah's Shield, which was gifted in 1936 by the Maharajah Kumar of Sant, India, who had been a guest at previous celebrations. Prize monies will not be issued, but we may issue certificates of merit instead.

Shops and businesses wishing to be judged for the Best Decorations MUST ENTER the contest by notifying the Competition Coordinator ~ IN WRITING ~ by sending an email to sec.6@btinternet.com by 12 noon on the TUESDAY of Beltane Week (16th June) and premises must be ready for judging by 12 noon on BELTANE WEDNESDAY (17th June).

** If unable to enter by email, entries ~ IN WRITING ONLY ~ may be sent to Mr. S. Coe, 6 Murray Place, Peebles EH45 8DJ. **

To encourage people to add more colour to the Beltane Festival Week, the Community Council of the Royal Burgh of Peebles and District presented a new trophy in 1992, a beautiful, silver-plated Cup, which is now awarded by the Beltane Festival Committee for the Best Decorated House. Prize monies will not be issued, but we may issue certificates of merit instead.

Since the Beltane Queen Centenary Year, more and more houses throughout the town are being decorated for Beltane Week. Each year, more families are joining in, and hanging up strings of flags in gardens and on houses. The Beltane Committee is keen that this should continue, and encourages everyone to join in the fun, and to put up some decorations for Beltane. This year the judging will again take place on the Beltane Wednesday.

It is well worthwhile having a walk around the town on Beltane Saturday afternoon, after the Crowning Ceremony and Grand Procession, to see the colour and variety of the decorated houses. Great effort and imagination, not to mention hard work, is put into the displays by the tamilies, relatives, triends and neighbours. This joint involvement in the spirit of Beltane is good for the town, for the community, and for the Festival. Most displays are still on show on the Sunday, and are worth a visit if you miss them on or before Saturday.

Why not join in, and decorate your house or garden? You do not have to be a Principal, or have a past Principal in the family, or even reside on a procession route, to take part, ~ you don't have to enter the competition, ~ all you need is a willingness to support your local Festival, and show your support. Go on, you can do it!

People wishing to compete for the Best Decorated House or Garden, MUST ENTER for the competition, - by notifying the Competition Coordinator ~ IN WRITING ~ by sending an email to ready for judging by 12 noon on BELTANE WEDNESDAY.

** If unable to enter by email, entries ~ IN WRITING ONLY ~ may be sent to Mr. S. Coe, 6 Murray Place, Peebles EH45 8DJ.

The results will be displayed at Elmbank Print, Elcho Street Brae, Peebles ~ and the winners also published in next year's Programme

REMEMBER
To enter the shop or house competitions, you MUST APPLY IN WRITING
as described above by noon on Beltane TUESDAY, 16th June.