Scottish Festival plans changes

DUNDEE--After years of being located at Black Rock Speedway, the Dundee Scottish Festival will attempt to bring the annual event to the middle of the village. Festival manager Fran Willis said the festival will seek approval from the Dundee village board Tuesday, April 14, to relocate the festival for its seventh year in September. Willis said while the board appeared to be in favor of the idea, they wanted to make sure the village businesses were in favor before it was made official.
"We are in the process of moving it to Main Street and Water Street, two blocks in town for the vendors, and up to Seneca Street Park and down to Spring Street Park," Willis said. "Everything will be free and there will be no gate charge. We are also trying to bring in some business for the village businesses."
Willis said while the Dundee village board was interested, they wanted a survey of the businesses. She said she will be presenting the information to the village board next Tuesday.
"The businesses have been very supportive," Willis said.
Willis said one of the goals of the Scottish Festival was to "put Dundee on the map," adding she has heard from people and businesses miles away who know Dundee for the festival. She said another goal was to get the community involved in a common goal and to bring some economic benefit to the village by encouraging people to visit again.
"That goal has been just mediocre, so bringing it into the village should support that goal more and help the businesses more," Willis said.
A casualty of the move this year will include the parade, which Willis said due to the lack of a gate fee, they needed to cut back in certain areas. She said it cost between $6,000 and $7,000 to put the parade on in the past. Willis said instead of the parade downtown they will just have band performances in the village street.
"This is going to be a major change," Willis said. "It is going to take more planning and we need more community people to come forward and help."