After a year of hard work by many people, the first ever Go! Festival took place in Ayr on Saturday 7th September.
There was such a buzz in the air during the event - with families positioning themselves to support and cheer on their relatives or friends.
And although the Scottish International Airshow was having the year off, that didn't stop event organisers bringing in some fun night-time Air Displays with the AeroSPARX pyrotechnic stunt planes letting out a lot of sparks and with a never seen before 1,000 fireworks finale - firing straight from the planes as the sun was setting.
Runners came from as far as the USA and Switzerland. The organisers, who also bring the Scottish International Airshow event to our doorstep say they will be back next year with the Go! Festival and the Airshow and believe they will bring in millions of pounds over the two events.
Race Director John Lloyd said:
“I have organised races and events across the UK and run in races across the world and few come close to what the people of Ayr produced on Saturday. More than 1,000 runners entered the races and nearly 500 cyclists joined the Family Cycle. The race routes showed off the historic sites around Ayr and Alloway and was voted a big hit with the runners. On a beautiful night we finished with a spectacular air display and beach fireworks. The day was quite simply stunning and we will definitely be back next year.”
“My youngest daughter ran her first 10K race exactly a year after giving birth to her first child” said Doug Maclean the event Director.
“She was delighted with the support she received during the race. Families were out cheering and encouraging the runners, children were “high fiving” runners and people were giving out sweets and water to anyone who needed a wee extra boost on the way”
Doug continued - “We brought runners from as far away as the USA and Switzerland and all were delighted to be in Ayr. A 25 strong Canadian police pipe band loved being involved. There are things we can improve on for next year but the decision of South Ayrshire Council to bring the Go! Festival to Ayr and to help us design the routes was a real vote of confidence in Ayr as a venue for large scale events. Next year the Go! Festival will be the weekend before the return of the Scottish International Airshow and Ayrshire is going to benefit by millions of pounds. Well done Ayr and Ayrshire – we will return”
Social media was awash with positive comment.
One lady from Invergordon said: “My family of 6 and our friends, a family of 4, booked into a local campsite and ate from local food stores, between us we generated a fair amount of income to local businesses (4 growing boys can really eat!!)
"We have scoped out a few things we want to do next year when we come back, we will book and eat local then too and visit local attractions. if it wasn't for the Go! Festival we probably wouldn't have known there was so much on offer and then never would have visited area.
"There will be so many families like us that have visited solely for the cycling and running events. The air show was just an amazing perk that finished off a fantastically organised event!"
The Pipes and Drums of Edmonton Police Service started off the races down the Ayr Beach Front. They were on tour in Scotland and came to be part of the Go! Festival.
The 2020 Go! Festival will take place in Ayr on Saturday 29th August and the Scottish International Airshow will take place on 4th, 5th and 6th September.