Viking Festival parade enjoyed by big crowds in Largs

There was a great variety of spectacular floats as well as classic cars and emergency vehicles flashing their lights and echoing their sirens.

It gave the community the opportunity to cheer on our lifesaving heroes including the fire brigade, coastguard, RNLI, First Responders, and community resilience teams, in an excellent turn-out.

Local dignitatries included North Ayrshire Provost Anthea Dickson, The Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran Iona McDonald, while North Ayrshire Council chief executive Craig Hatton joined Viking Festival chairs past and present, Alex Gallagher and Douglas Blair. Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterston, as festival patron, was also present on the big day.

Provost Anthea Dickson, on right, pictured with Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran Iona McDonald (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Viking re-enactment groups and even 88-year-old Largs Viking extrarodinaire Harry McEachan joined the parade, while local groups including Largs Players promoting their forthcoming productions of The Addams Family and Snow White, Largs Youth Theatre, Largs Boys Brigade, The Cumbrae trishaws from Cycling Without Age, also took part.It Disney get better than this: Snow White even joined the festival parade (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Vintage vehicles, tractors, a Stagecoach open top bus from the 1980s, and 40 classic cars ranging from original Minis to more modern sports cars, which would not look out of place in a James Bond movie, and even a classic Volkswagen camper van for good measure.

Largs community councillor Jamie Black was all smiles as he drove a vintage steam engine through the town centre to appreciative smiles and waves from the crowds too.

Jamie told the News: "It was an incredible parade today -  what an atmosphere!"

Crowds lapped it up as over 30,000 people enjoyed the live footage of the event on the Largs and MIllport News Facebook page.

Thanks to Charlie Gilmour for the photographs.

Feeling champion: Viking Festival parade on horseback (Image: Charlie Gilmour)
Fest is best: Viking Festival opening day was greeted with warn sunshine (Image: Charlie Gilmour) High visibility: Largs Community Resilience team (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Viking invaders: All smiles on board this Norse ship! (Image: Charlie Gilmour) R-enactment groups gave a glimpse of the Viking way of life(Image: Charlie Gilmour) Shield of honour as Vikings begin their invasion of Largs town centre! (Image: Charlie Gilmour)
Festvial visitors attending the parade had no axes to grind with the spectacular line-up (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Audience appreciation index: Crowd cheered the parade which was a spectacular sight (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Don't put safety in the shade: RNLI with an important message for all festival goers (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

Creepy and cooky: Addams Family made their presence felt to promote their spook-tacular Largs Players show coming next month (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

On the march with the BBs! (Image: Charlie Gilmour) The perfect day for a parade! (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Drumming up a great day at festival spectacular (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Cycling without Age Scotland wave for the camera! (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Farming Life: Tractors also put in an appearance (Image: Charlie Gilmour) (Image: Charlie Gilmour) The age of Steam: Jamie Black was on board the steam engine for a trip back in time (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Viking Festival parade was a 'classic' in every sense of the word (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Trishaws were a welcome sight on the festival parade (Image: Charlie Gilmour) The festival attracted big numbers as many looked for the best vantage point for the parade (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Rally spectacular: Racing cars also featured (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Provost Anthea Dickson addresses the crowd at the opening ceremony (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Church of The Nazarene pastor Steve Fountain (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Viking Festival patron Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterston (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Lineup of Viking Festival dignitaries (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Viking Festival is great family fun as both father and daughter can vouch for! (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Tractor invasion provided an unexpected ambush for the Vikings! (Image: Charlie Gilmour) Viking Festival on Saturday was a great opening bash as this young drummer can testify! (Image: Charlie Gilmour)