The Fancy Dress
Contest and Parade
The Fancy Dress Contest and Parade are among the most anticipated events of Peebles Beltane Festival. These festivities take place on the Friday evening and showcase the town's vibrant community spirit, with participants of all ages donning imaginative costumes - often weeks or months in the making - and joining the lively procession through the streets of Peebles. The Fancy Dress Contest and Parade are integral parts of Peebles Beltane Festival, reflecting the town's rich traditions and community engagement. Participants invest significant time and effort into their costumes, contributing to the event's enduring popularity and success.
The Fancy Dress Contest
The Fancy Dress Parade on Beltane Friday is a vibrant highlight of Peebles Beltane Festival, embodying the town's creativity and community spirit. This cherished tradition, dating back to 1907, has evolved from a simple parade of decorated bicycles into a grand spectacle featuring imaginative costumes, floats, and performances. The evening's festivities commence at 7:00 PM with the judging of the fancy dress entries. Participants, ranging from individuals to large groups, showcase their inventive costumes to the judges, who are typically the Beltane Principals, entrusted with evaluating the creativity and presentation of each entry. In recent years, the content has showcased remarkable entries. For instance, in 2023, the Kingsland Teachers' "School Bus" entry won the Jimmy Raeburn Trophy, while Jeremy Sceats' "Stars in their Eyes" performance earned him the Stalwart Medal. The content and subsequent parade continues to be a testament to Peebles' enduring community spirit and creative flair.
Fancy Dress Contest Categories
The contest features a diverse range of categories, encouraging creativity and participation from various groups. Each category celebrates the participants' creativity, with awards presented to outstanding entries. The coveted Jimmy Raeburn Trophy is awarded to the best overall entry, highlighting exceptional effort and originality.
- Nurseries: Young children from local nurseries participate, competing for the Nursery Shield.
- Motor-Driven Floats: Divided into groups with 10 or more participants and those with fewer, these floats are elaborately decorated to match their themes.
- Cycles: Participants decorate bicycles to complement their costumes.
- Senior Groups and Individuals: Adults showcase their creativity, with awards including the Liz Lynn Trophy and the Stalwart Medal recognising outstanding entries.
- Senior Couples: Pairs present coordinated costumes, often with humorous or topical themes.
- Youth and Junior Categories: Children and teenagers participate as individuals, couples, or groups, displaying a wide array of themes.
- Pre-School: The youngest participants charm the crowd with their adorable outfits.
- Mixed Age Groups: Families and community groups of varying sizes collaborate on themed costumes; groups with 10 or more participants, fewer than 10 participants, and couples.
The Fancy Dress Parade
Following the judging of the Fancy Dress Competition, the Fancy Dress Parade commences at around 7:30 PM, led by the Cornet and accompanied by pipe and silver bands. The procession weaves through the town, with participants showcasing their costumes to enthusiastic crowds lining the streets. Entertainment along the route includes performances by the Y.M. Dancers and the Rugby Club, adding to the festive atmosphere. The parade route typically includes Tweed Green, Tweed Brae, Eastgate, High Street, Cuddy Bridge, Old Town, Young Street, Rosetta Road, March Street, Northgate, High Street, Port Brae, and returns to Tweed Green.
