The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Visitors flocking to Perth for dazzling lights show
Riverside festival part of strategy to boost Fair City’s night economy
A dazzling lights show is luring thousands of visitors to Perth.
The city’s Riverside Light Nights festival continued last night with an evening of magic and wizardry.
The historic Norie-Miller trail along the Tay was illuminated for the Harry Potter-style extravaganza. The event featured a host of magicians and sorcerers, as well as traders selling a range of tricks and toys.
Organisers Perth and Kinross Council struck a £46,700 deal with Edinburghbased entertainment firm 21cc Fireworks to host the two-week event.
It is part of a wider strategy to boost the Fair City’s night-time economy after a study showed only a small portion of the local population set foot in the city centre after 6pm.
The 2019 Light Nights launched with a celebration of Robbie Burns, followed by a hugely popular Dinosaur-themed evening.
The trail was transformed into a sci-fi fan’s paradise – complete with Ghostbusters and superheroes – last week, and helped ring in the Chinese New Year at the weekend.
The magic theme continues today, while a romantic Valentine’s weekend will bring the festival to a close.
Visitor numbers have yet to be revealed, although the show is shaping up to be the busiest yet. Word has started to spread about the event, with more visitors travelling from outwith the city.
Around 14,000 attended over the first few nights.
It is part of the city’s Winter Festival programme, which featured a starstudded Christmas lights switch-on ceremony featuring singers Pixie Lott and James Arthur.