We have a wonderful community in Strathaven. Here are just a few of the organisations, events and places to visit that we are lucky enough to have on our doorstep!
Strathaven Gala
Wester Overton PS is always very involved in Gala Week! Strathaven holds theannual Gala Week offering a range of activities including a raft race, model boat regatta, duck race, Crags race, school netball/ football tournaments, car treasure hunt, swimming gala, musical performances and the annual Gala Parade and family fun day.
Children and adults from all local schools, nurseries, community groups and local organisations make up floats and parade through the town to the George Allan Park where the gala ceremony takes place followed by a family fun day. The Gala Day is the second Saturday in June with the other events taking place throughout the week before.
Website: www.strathavengala.co.uk
Strathaven Castle
Strathaven Castle is believed to have been built around 1350, the first recorded castle was a wooden structure that was replaced some 100 years later by a stone castle.
The site is so steeped in history that it has been given nationally important ancient monument status.
Strathaven John Hastie Museum Trust
Formed by local volunteers, the Strathaven John Hastie Museum Trust was set up in response to the closure of the John Hastie Museum. The g
roup have held a number of exhibitions over the past few years displaying the many artefacts from the museum in addition to ensuring their safety.
Children from Wester Overton visit the museum to learn more about the rich and varied history of their town. The museum also sponsors our ‘Citizenship’ trophy which is awarded to a Primary 7 leaver each year who has demonstrated excellent citizenship skills within our community.
Website: www.strathavenmuseum.org
The Strathaven Balloon Festival
The Strathaven Balloon Festival is a major part of the Avondale calendar and is run entirely by volunteers.
The event marked its 20th anniversary in 2019 with over 40,000 visitors enjoying the spectacle that is Scotland’s only Balloon Festival.
Weather permitting, spectators can watch the ‘Evening Glow’, where balloonists take to the skies to create a magical scene of light and colour.
Website: www.strathavenballoonfestival.co.uk
Strathaven & District Round Table
The Strathaven & District Round Table is a social club of men aged 18-45. The big events of the year are the annual bonfire night in Strathaven Park, the Beer Festival and the Raft Race. All money raised goes back into the community and the group play a vital part in keeping some of the annual events of the town running.
Wester Overton Primary School enjoys a great relationship with the Round Table, who also sponsor our Expressive Arts Trophy for our annual Leavers Ceremony.
Website: www.strathaven-district.roundtable.co.uk
Friends of Strathaven Park
We have a fabulous park in Strathaven! Strathaven Park has regularly been voted the number 1 park in Scotland and has reached the top 10 in the UK five years in a row.
Friends of Strathaven Park is a voluntary group who help to preserve the park’s landscape and also help to implement funding of improvement projects.
They also encourage the local community to engage and become involved in environmental issues and projects. The group recently completed work on development of a Sensory Garden in Strathaven Park, the design of which the children of Wester Overton contributed to.
Strathaven Town Mill
The Town Mill is the hub for a variety of exhibitions and events and is considered a historic landmark alongside Strathaven Castle. The Theatre, the Granary and the Thompson Hall are all available for hire each with its own unique qualities that help to add something extra to the events held.
Website: www.strathaventownmill.org
