The Viking Festival has been forced to AXE its popular aerial flight display for the coming year.
As the News recently reported, the Norse extravaganza has missed out on £30,000 of funding from Event Scotland and has set up a new Patreon scheme in a bid to plug at least some of the resulting gap in its funds.
Festival chairman Douglas Blair said it was highly disappointing to miss out on the grant funding this year but was hopeful that they could successfully apply next year.
The aeronautics displays on Largs seafront has always been a big draw for the past 15 years from the RAF Typhoon to the Battle of Britain Lancaster plane shows, while the Red Devils parachute team and a Cessna seaplane have also been attractions.
Douglas said: "It was disappointing to miss out on the Event Scotland funding but the criteria changed.
"Event Scotland has been very good to us over the years but without it this year this is sadly one of the reasons we have had to pull the aerial display."
The festival takes place from September 2-10.
In another change to previous years, online tickets will require to be booked for the Viking Festival of Fire, taking place this year on September 9.
Some events are also set to be taking place in Millport as the festival extends its scope.
Douglas continued: "We have had a good working relationship with the Scottish Air Show at Prestwick, and the simple truth of the matter is that we simply can't afford to have it.
"Of course some people have questioned what does an air display have to do with the Vikings, but the festival has always been about broader cultural aspects, and there is no doubt it is disappointing.
"There is a feeling that some other events around Scotland get more credence because of who they are or what they are.
"We are a community run group made up of volunteers and have to compete with professionally funded fully paid up event organisers who know all the ins and outs of the rules and regulations.
"There hadn't been any discussions with us about the application changes, and I am sure other groups would have missed out around the country."
However, Douglas has praised the support from businesses in Largs over recent months.
He said: "We have had lots of support in terms of sponsorship and every penny counts and some events will be taking place in the festival largely thanks to those donations.
"We have even had donations from members of the public for £50, and they have told us it is simply because they love the festival and what it means to the town."
There will still be all the other festival favourites such as the opening parade and ceremony, live entertainment, fringe events, food and craft market, full Viking village and the ever popular Festival of Fire and procession.
As well as the Viking skirmish and burning of the longboat, a programme of entertainment and a fireworks display are planned.
A festival spokesperson said: "We project this will be a very busy year for the festival and so to save any disappointment, especially for those coming from far afield, we will be selling online tickets for many events, including the Viking village, the festival of fire on September 9, and others still to be announced.
"There will still be tickets for the village available at the gate.
"Tickets to some of these events will be limited. If you would like first access to these tickets before going on general sale and patron-only discounts, please sign up to our Patreon page for only £2 per month to receive these exclusive benefits and also find out exciting announcements days before going live on social media platforms."
For more details on the Patreon scheme, see patreon.com/LargsVikingfestival.
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