A GROUP of Kilwinning traders and community activists have joined forces to ensure one of the town's favourite annual events will return in 2023 - and will go back to its traditional roots.

The Segdoune Gala will take place next month - and for the first time in years will return to its roots, with a focus on community games, stalls and entertainment. 

Organisers Choose Kilwinning said that after the folding of the Promoting Kilwinning group, there had been some concern that events such as the gala and the town's Christmas lights display might not go ahead.

But those fears have proved unfounded - and the 2023 Segdoune Gala will take place on Sunday, May 7 - ensuring there will be more than one monarch crowned that weekend.

Speaking this week, Aaran McDonald, chair of Choose Kilwinning, said: “Our team of volunteer committee members have been working hard to bring together this historic event and decided to bring the event forward to May to coincide with the bank holiday weekend.

"There will be music, a tug of war championship, a dunk tank filled with well kent local faces, over 40 stalls, some very cute aplacas and, of course, the crowning of this year's Segdoune Queen!”

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The event will be on Sunday, May 7 from 12 noon till 4pm with the crowning of the Segounde Queen kicking off all the fun.

The group is still looking for teams of six for the tug of war championship as well as volunteers to take part in the dunk tank.

Anyone who wants to register a team or volunteer for the dunk tank can do so by messaging the Choose Kilwinning Facebook page.

Choose Kilwinning's vice-chair, Elaine Wright of Koolerz in Main Street, added: "This is the first event we have organised as Choose Kilwinning, and it is a lot of work - but we are hoping it will be a brilliant and fun-filled day with music, games, stalls and not forgetting alpacas!”