Residents and visitors invited to play their part in spectacular Stirling 900 parade
Stirling Council have sent this invitation:
Residents and visitors are being invited to create a carnival atmosphere at the finale to the Stirling 900 anniversary celebrations by turning out for one of the biggest pipe band parades the city has ever seen.
The countdown is on for the spectacular gala event on Saturday, 29 March, which steps off from the esplanade at Stirling Castle at 12pm.
Fittingly, around 900 people, including 350 musicians and local community groups and organisations, will march an iconic route from the Castle through the city centre and over Stirling Bridge to Stirling Rugby Club.
Residents and visitors are being invited to line the streets of Stirling for the family-friendly parade, with lots of great vantage points along the route, which is expected to take around 45 minutes to complete.
At its conclusion, parade participants will gather on the pitch at Bridgehaugh for a large group photograph and family members and friends are also welcome to enter the Rugby Club grounds, where there will be a range of food and drinks vendors available.
A full FAQ for the event has been compiled to signpost residents and visitors to key information on the parade.
The parade will follow a showcase of Stirling’s dynamic and diverse culture at the Castle on Friday, 28 March – with the Stirling 900 celebrations concluding at a special ceilidh at the Albert Halls on the Saturday night.
Stirling Lord Provost, Elaine Watterson, said: “The finale parade will be a fitting way to cap a wonderful year of celebration for Stirling 900.
“Our people and communities have shaped the development of Stirling over the decades and centuries and it’s only right they take play a central role in our Saturday showpiece.
“We look forward to seeing members of the public throng the streets on the parade route through some of the most iconic landmarks in the country, enjoying the spectacle of the pipe and military bands and our wonderful community groups and organisations.
“Our people have made Stirling such a unique and welcoming place to live, work, entertain and enjoy. We look forward to coming together as one on 29 March.”
The City of Stirling Pipe Band will be at the forefront of the parade and Pipe Major Scott Methven said: “The parade is almost upon us and we can’t wait to play for the residents and visitors who will line the streets of Stirling to mark the end of the 900 celebrations.
“The response to our invite to come and play a part in this historic occasion has been wonderful, with bands and pipers the length and breadth of the UK set to join forces on March 29.
“It will be an amazing spectacle to see the pipe bands, other musicians and community groups making their way through the streets of the city from the Castle, over Stirling Bridge and onto Stirling Rugby Club. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and we are very excited to take part.”
The finale events are being supported by Persimmon Homes (East Scotland) who are the headline sponsors of the Stirling finale 900 celebrations.
Neil Parry, Managing Director of Persimmon East Scotland, said: “At Persimmon, we are committed to building a lasting legacy in the communities in which we operate, and we know the celebrations of Stirling 900 will also live long in the memory of everyone who takes part.
“The parade promises to be a noisy and colourful coming together of the people of Stirling, as well as visitors to the city. It will be a real family-friendly event and we’re delighted to play our part in this historic milestone against so many iconic Scottish backdrops.”
Full list of confirmed ticketed events for the Stirling 900 finale celebrations:
- Thursday 27 March (6.30pm): A 900th anniversary edition of the Tolbooth Supper Club. More info and bookings.
- Friday 28 March (6-8pm): Culture at the Castle event that celebrates Stirling’s cultural and creative talent. More info and tickets.
- Friday 28 March (8-9pm): A free concert in the Great Hall of Stirling Castle, led by local musicians Evie Waddell and Neil Sutcliffe following the Culture at the Castle event. More info and tickets.
- Saturday 29 March (12 noon): The Stirling 900 gala parade will be the centrepiece of the celebrations, setting off from Stirling Castle esplanade and weave its way through the city down to Stirling County Rugby Club.
- Saturday 29 March (Doors 7pm): A Stirling 900 ceilidh will be the final fling of the finale weekend at the Albert Halls with the wonderful Katie Allen Trio as the ceilidh band. More info and tickets.
- Each day from 10am to 5pm until 19 May: An exhibition at the Marcrobert Arts Centre featuring artwork and archival material from the University Archives and Art Collection which celebrate the history of the city and its cultural heritage.
- Tues-Sat (10am-5pm) 8 March to 26 April: A free exhibition about belonging at The Tolbooth presented by GOSSIP Collective and emerging artists from across the world, some of whom have created their home in Scotland, called Find Direction Home exhibition.
- Wed-Sun (10am-5pm) at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum: Stirling City Heritage Trust invites you to discover the stories of Stirling’s historic streets and how Conservation Area designation helps to protect the city’s unique historic environment.
For more details on all the Stirling 900 finale events, including the FAQ on the pipe band parade, please visit: https://www.yourstirling.com/whats-on/stirling-900-finale/
Photos credit: Whyler Photos/Stirling Council
