Lerwick Shopping Week took place last week and had the benefit of dry weather for shoppers and activity hunters to take part in events.
The event was run alongside Shetland Boat Week this year and many events had a nautical theme including the Pirate Treasure hunt, Island Larder pirate chocolate workshops and jet ski taster sessions to name a few.
The RNLI Lerwick Lifeboat joined up with the Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Sumburgh to put on a rescue display in the harbour, followed by an open boat which was busy with visitors looking around the Lifeboat at Victoria Pier. The Coastguard emergency towing vessel ‘Ievoli Black’ was also open at Victoria Pier on Sunday afternoon to welcome visitors aboard.
At the weekend, Harrison Square was busy with Face-painting sessions, fashion shows by LHD
Marine Supplies and M&Co, and live music from the ShantYYellmen on Saturday.
The Alice Theatre Group staged a performance that took the audience from one end of commercial street to the other, and finished with a stage presentation that reminded shoppers to “put your phones down” and look around and speak to people when you are in town. A great encouragement for face to face social interaction and good manners from the younger generation!
Living Lerwick Project Manager, Emma Miller, said “I’ve spoken to a few business owners who said they were busy last week, and had noticed an increase in local customers. This is really encouraging. Shopping local is the only way to keep our local businesses viable and able to continue to provide services locally, keeping money in our own local economy and maintaining our low unemployment rate.”
The Lerwick Lanes race was extended this year from lanes only to a 5k race taking in a wider town centre route. 21 brave souls came along on a wet and windy Sunday afternoon to take part, and Karl Simpson took first place with an impressive time of 19 minutes 52 seconds. Andrew Grant took second place in the adult category, followed by Susan Linklater in third. Ethan Nicolson recorded an outstanding time of 23 minutes 23 seconds to take first place in the under 16 category. Caitlin Anderson took second and Ellie Howard third for the juniors.
Image : Caitlin Anderson, Karl Simpson, Ethan Nicolson & Susan Linklater.
Sunday afternoon was also a busy day in the town as the Shetland Motorcyclists for Charity held their motorcycle muster and parade, which included live music by a number of local bands in Harrison Square. Living Lerwick were very pleased to support 
this event and provide the staging for the bands.
The crowds were also joined by two miniature Shetland ponies from the Brygarth Stud. Bonnie and Little Miss Sunshine enjoyed the music and assembled crowds.
2019 is a special year for one particular shop 
on the street as it celebrated 125 years of trading. Smith and Robertson’s, run by Edna irvine has been in the same family for generations and Edna took on the shop from her father. A window display commemorating the changes in fashion and times on the street has been much admired and Edna will keep the display up for a few weeks to allow more folk to pop along and enjoy it.