ORGANISERS of the Addingham Gala on Saturday (July 8) said the event promised to be a great day out for everyone.

Following the theme "Come Follow the Band!" there will be musical attractions throughout the afternoon with appeal for young and old alike.

The Gala commences with the parade down Main Street and with 31 different groups taking part on floats and in walking tableaux it should be a sight well worth watching.

In honour of the Millennium, the Gala Committee has invited as many 20th Century Gala Queens as could be found to take part in the parade and they will be travelling to the Gala field in vintage cars.

At 2.00pm, when the parade has arrived at the field the event will be officially opened by disc jockey Tim Paul and then Sophie Taylor, the 2000 Gala Queen will be crowned.

The Fresh AM Roadshow will then swing into action with Tim Paul entertaining the crowds for the first hour.

Providing more musical entertainment is Ceilidh band Zig Zag, playing outside The Fleece.

Jazz band Olicana Sax and the ATC will be playing on the field, and the Silsden Brass band will lead the parade and then play outside the Memorial Hall to entertain those taking tea.

All the traditional elements of the Gala are in place with events which include the fiercely contested Tug of War, a Straw Race down Main Street, Bonniest Baby and Fancy Dress competitions (including best dressed pram), a pet show and the ever-popular Children's Races.

On top of all this there will be fairground attractions for the smaller children, a magician and a marquee almost bursting at the seams with stalls, games and side-shows.

Rebecca Carter, of the organising committee, said: "If you manage to see half of what will be on offer you will have done well."

Entry is by Gala programme, priced at £1.50 (children under 16 are free).

Programmes are available from the Good Food Shop and the Addingham Newsagency. They may also be bought on the field on the day.

And, just when you think it's all over, at 7.30pm there is a gala dance with pie and pea supper in the Memorial Hall. Music will be provided by the Bar Flys.

Tickets are bookable in advance and may be purchased from The Swan, Fleece and Craven Heifer pubs and also Clayfields Chemist.

Mrs Carter said: "Come rain or shine the Addingham Gala committee looks forward to welcoming you to the village's main annual event - don't miss out."

Mrs Carter praised the Ilkley Gazette after an appeal in the paper in March this year got her interested in taking over the job of organising the annual event.

She was joined by a core committee of around eight other volunteers, as well as other people who stepped in to help when the need arose.

"It has been very hard work but we have had fantastic support - at our last meeting 18 volunteers stepped forward to help on the day itself," said Mrs Carter.

She said that the organisation for next year's event was already under way with many attractions which could not make it this year promising to be there in 2001.