The Largs Viking Festival party finale is set to take place in the Mackerston/Broomfields area this year.

We recently revealed that the committee behind the festival were looking at introducing some changes as a result of tighter budgets this year.

North Ayrshire Council have pulled their finding for the finale party, and this has led to the festival committee looking at making modifications to the popular end of festival event.

The matter was discussed at the recent Largs Community Council meeting.

CC Chairman Douglas Blair, who is a member of the festival committee, revealed the changes at Largs Library.

"The current intention is to move the fireworks display for different reasons," said Douglas, "not withstanding the fact that during the festival week, the marina has the Largs Regatta Week which creates difficulties with parking etc."

"The burning of the Viking longboat and fireworks display would instead take place in the Mackerston area, which might be better, as more people will be able to see it, as it has a natural amphitheatre area. The tide will be out as well, which we have checked, so it should be ideal.

"A lot of people like the fireworks and the burning of the longboat - it is part of the tradition, and that was part of the thinking behind retaining it. It was either not going to happen, or the festival were going to take it on board, but the opportunity was there to think about it differently."

Douglas said that although there was going to be a change of location for the party finale, all the elements of the Viking extravaganza would be remaining the same, and said he was hopeful that big crowds would be attracted to the aeronautics display this year on Largs Prom.

The RAF Lancaster Bomber displays on 3 and 4 September will take place between 4.30pm and 5pm.

Community councillor Ian Murdoch pointed out that Blue Kiwi Photography were hosting an exhibition of local photography at the Vikingar during the festival, starting on 27 August for several weeks.

The Largs book festival which is associated with the Viking Festival is also becoming more popular too, it was pointed out at the meeting.

Douglas also expressed the wish that more community groups, businesses, and locals, get involved in the opening ceremony parade which is starting earlier than usual from Morrison's roundabout in Largs on the opening Saturday. Largs Rotary will be hosting the return of the rubber duck race on the Gogo Burn which has been absent in recent years, and is a popular family event.

The Viking Festival starts on Saturday 27 August until Sunday 4 September. More details available online at largsvikingfestival.com