Kids on trail of festive reindeer
Colourful creations around city
Youngsters have been on the hunt for reindeer in Stirling city centre in the run–up to Christmas.
Stirling’s reindeer trail encourages children to search for the animals in shops and cafes around the city.
A herd of 20 life–size colourful reindeer, designed and decorated by schoolchildren, arrived in Stirling last month to take up residence in shop windows.
The initiative was launched by Go Forth Stirling Business Improvement District to create a buzz around the city and to encourage people to visit different retailers.
Go Forth Stirling’s Jon Walton said: “The reindeer look fantastic in their new homes, where they have pride of place in the windows.
“People are already enjoying the trail and it’s a great way to get everyone excited about the city centre at Christmas and visit all the amazing independent and national traders we have in Stirling.
“Our free Christmas landtrain is also running at weekends until December 16, which is a fun way to find the reindeer and you can collect an entry form on board too.
“Stirling area schoolchildren who painted the reindeer did a fantastic job and they are all so colourful and different.
“I’m so pleased with the way the traders have taken the project on board and are enjoying being involved with the trail.”
Shoppers have to find all 20 reindeer hosted in businesses around Stirling in a competition which features a range of prizes, including an iPad.
Trail maps, complete with clues, are available and show where children can find and note down the location of every animal, along with the name of the school which designed it.
The Filling Station in Dumbarton Road is one of the businesses taking part. Supervisor Hannah Moore said: “We’ve had people coming in and asking what the reindeer is for and we see children looking at it in the window and taking photos.
“I think it’s a really cool idea and it’s helping keep the city busy in the run-up to Christmas.
“It’s also lovely to see people being so interested and enthusiastic about the trail.”
At the Blue Lagoon fish and chip shop in Port Street a colourful reindeer has pride of place in the window.
Manager Kate Tanguc said: “It’s a great idea and we’ve been giving customers leaflets and telling them all about the trail.
“It’s a real conversation starter and we look forward to seeing more people get involved with the project in the next few weeks.”
School pupils were invited to submit individual or group designs for the reindeer.
Twenty winners were chosen from 17 schools, including Bridge of Allan Primary, Killin Primary, Stirling High and Bannockburn High, who were provided with paints to decorate the models.
One of the schools will win a prize for their design, with competition entrants asked to vote for the best reindeer design.
The reindeer will remain in Stirling throughout the festive season and the closing date for competition entries is on Saturday, January 5.
Winner of the Reindeer Trail, who will be drawn from all correct entries, will receive an iPad and there are five runner–up prizes on offer too.
More details about how to take part, along with downloadable maps and entry forms, can be found at www.stirling-city.co.uk as well as Thistles shopping centre, the reindeer trail locations and the tourist information centre at the Old Town Jail.
Entries can be returned by post or via special Santa post boxes in the Thistles.