Children and adults alike took part in the lively parade through the streets of the town, to celebrate the life of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns, with the event having a spooky Tam O’Shanter theme.
Kirsty Turpie, who was carrying one of the Dead Celebrity costumes as part of Blueprint 100, said: “Taking part for the second year round, I was afraid that the Big Burns Supper parade wouldn’t be as spectacular as last year, yet it exceeded my expectations once again.
“Being at the academy in the afternoon, it was clear to see that the kids from schools and clubs all over Dumfries were really excited to be part of the event, and had learnt something about Burns and the Tam O’Shanter story through the experience.”
The theme was represented and expressed through visual design, puppetry, dance and music, as a massive team of artists, volunteers and participants worked around the clock to make it happen.
Graham Main, executive producer of Big Burns Supper, said: “Robert Burns wrote Tam O’Shanter when he lived in Dumfries, and it is considered to be his most epic poem.
“It is a fitting inspiration to the opening of a festival which is ambitious as the Big Burns Supper, and a perfect tribute to our national bard.”
Talking about the carnival, participants said that it was lively and all those dressed up and involved were greeted by a great atmosphere as huge crowds lined the streets of Dumfries.
A new route through the town centre was also seen as beneficial, with many feeling that it lended a real climactic experience to the event, as the parade entered the high street, with live drummers and a lantern parade.
Speaking about her personal highlight of the carnival, Kirsty said: “A highlight for myself was the D-Lux festival of light, which had lit up the Midsteeple’s clock face with light and projections, adding an extra level of creativity to the celebratory evening.”
