Melrose, Peebles and Yetholm cancel festivals amid Conoravirus pandemic

Organisers from each of the towns this morning announced the events are cancelled due to the ongoing spread of Covid-19.

Melrosian-elect Douglas Crawford, who was announced in January, will have to wait for his turn in the saddle, now that the town’s annual celebrations, due to run from June 14 to 20, called off.

Melrose Festival chairman Rob Moffat said: “This is a real disappointment for the community as a whole, as it is a time in the year when we can celebrate together all that is good in Melrose.

“It is particularly disappointing for the Melrosian-elect and the court, which would have been announced on May 1.

“We will try to celebrate the festival, albeit in a much smaller form, later in the summer.

“At this time the most important thing is to look after each other and stay healthy.”

Yetholm was due to name its Bari Gadgi and Bari Manushi on Friday, May 1, too. But today festival chairwoman Zoe Keddie said the event, due to take place from Friday, June 5, to Saturday, June 13, would not go ahead.

Peebles has followed suit with the call off of the 2020 Beltane, but remains hopeful the town can still celebrate in some form later in the year.

Peebles March Riding and Beltane Queen festival committee chairman George Blair said: “Since the resurrection of the Riding of the Marches in 1897, and the introduction of the Beltane Queen Festival in 1899, our focus has been for the enjoyment and benefit of the townsfolk of the Royal Burgh of Peebles.

“Similarly, for the health and wellbeing of those same townsfolk, we have made the difficult decision not to appoint principals, including the Beltane Queen and Court, and cancel Beltane for this year.

“This decision has been made in line with other festivals throughout the south of Scotland, together with advice from Scottish Government and Scottish Borders Council.

“We are of course hugely aware of the history and traditions of our town, and hope that as the year progresses and restrictions are relaxed, we can mark Beltane 2020 in some way.”

Last night both Galashiels and Innerleithen called off their Braw Lads’ Gathering and St Ronan’s Games weeks respectively.

More here:

https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-forces-cancellation-two-more-borders-festivals-galashiels-and-innerleithen-2502777

Their announcements followed the cancellation of the Jethart Callant’s Festival earlier this week, too.

More here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/people/first-borders-traditional-festivals-called-over-covid-19-fears-2501508And this morning Hawick and Kelso followed suit: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/people/coronavirus-forces-cancellation-hawick-common-riding-and-kelso-civic-week-2503174