By Stuart Gillespie
Excitement is building ahead of this year’s Castle Douglas Civic Week and Douglas Day. Everything from fun runs and discos to football camps and quizzes will be taking place in the build-up to Douglas Day itself on July 19. First up on Monday, July 14 is family prize bingo in the town hall, with eyes down at 7pm. On Tuesday night it鈥檚 the senior five mile fun run out to Gelston. It starts from Lochside Park at 7pm and can be entered at EntryCentral . Wednesday includes a kids football camp at Birkland Park. It runs from 10am until 12noon and is open to ages five to 15. Keeping with the sporty theme, there is a boccia tournament in the town hall from 11am until 2pm. Boccia is a disability sport testing muscle control and accuracy and the competition is open to new and experienced players. Later in the day there is kids fancy dress and a disco in the Market Inn from 5pm to 7pm. And Castle Douglas Bowling Club will be hosting the civic bowling competition from 6.15pm. Sport continues on Thursday with a tennis taster from 10am at Stewartry Community Sports Club and the kids fun run in Lochside Park from 6pm, with the civic darts competition in Monty鈥檚 bar. And if you fancy testing your grey matter, there鈥檚 the civic quiz in Castle Douglas Parish Church from 7pm. Friday sees the civic pet show in the marquee on Market Hill at 5.30pm, with the adults five-a-side football competition at Birkland Park at 6.30pm. Douglas Day is Saturday, July 19 and the parade assembles at Wallets Marts from 11am for judging at 12noon. It will go on its way, led by Douglas Lad and Lass Conall Hawthorne and Aylar Patterson, at 1pm. An afternoon of fun at Market Hill is in store, featuring Jo鈥檚 Scottish Dancers, Kirkcudbright and District Pipe Band and music from Rhelm, Eric Woodhouse, Life of Riley, Katie Mac, DJ Stuart Lynch and The Dangleberries. There will also be kids entertainment, food and drinks, Reid鈥檚 Amusements, a climbing wall, photobooth and a bucking bronco. The week ends on Sunday with kids darts in the Legion on Market Hill, open to 10 to 16-year-olds. Registration is 11.45am for a 12noon start. Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. There鈥檚 also the civic pool competition in Monty鈥檚 Bar. If you can鈥檛 wait until then, the hidden article, car treasure hunt and walking treasure hunt competitions are already under way and run until July 18. Entry forms are available for all three from the Toffee Shop and panache on King Street. Completed forms should be returned to Panache.