Food and fun at free community event
A community event offering residents in Blairgowrie and Rattray the chance to enjoy free food and entertainment is taking place in the Wellmeadow on Saturday this week.
The event, which is being organised by Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council (BRCC), aims to provide an opportunity for members of the local community to gather together.
Taking place from 5.30 to 7pm, there will be free sparklers and kids’goodie bags, a free bouncy castle and glow in the dark facepainting, and free stovies, soup, macaroni cheese and hot drinks.
Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council took the decision to host the event after there was very little response to a number of appeals for donations and volunteers to organise a Bonfire Night fireworks display for the town this year.
According to a social media post on the
community council’s Facebook page earlier in the year, the 10-minute fireworks display last year cost over £3000 to put on.
Just over half that amount was raised in donations for a proposed display this year.
However, when the idea of a community event was discussed with those who had donated to the fireworks, they were keen to support it.
And further donations of sparklers and food have also been received from Tesco and Lidl.
Sam Stewart, from BRCC, said:“This free event aims to bring the community together at what is still a difficult time for many people.
“The cost of living crisis is affecting lots of families, couples and individuals. We know how difficult it is going to be for people this winter, and we as a community council felt that a brief 10-minute firework display was perhaps not appropriate at this point in time.
“Following appeals to the local community and discussions with local businesses that donated to the fireworks, we decided to host an event that will help to reduce social isolation and provide people with hot food and drinks and a reason to get together and enjoy free entertainment for a couple of hours.
“There has been lots of positive feedback to the idea so far and we’re hoping for a good turnout and a lovely family-friendly fun evening in our town.”