Roads closed for Open Streets fest
Family-friendly activities offered up in traffic-free city
Residents and visitors can enjoy a host of events and activities organised around Stirling’s Open Streets Festival this Saturday.
The free event will see King Street, Friars Street, Port Street and part of Murray Place closed to vehicles with visitors enjoying a range of fun, family-friendly activities between 10am and 4pm. This will include come-and-try sports, live music, arts and crafts, story sessions, a silent disco and historical walking tours.
There will also be information stalls for a range of environmental groups, advice about active travel and sustainable living and activities such as seed planting, bug hotel making and opportunities to take part in a junk model competition and contribute to a collaborative community mural.
The festival is being organised by Stirling Council in partnership with Go Forth Business Improvement District and will offer a pedestrianfocused environment for residents and visitors, who can experience the busy city centre streets and enjoy its shops, cafes and attractions with reduced traffic congestion and environmental impact.
The festival coincides with Earth Day, a global movement where people around the world are encouraged to raise awareness of environmental issues and commit to a sustainable and equitable future for our planet, and families are being encouraged to leave their cars at home and walk, cycle or take public transport to get to the event.
Stirling Council leader Chris Kane, said: “It’s a terrific chance for retailers, residents and visitors to visualise the possibilities of a carfree city centre and the economic and environmental benefits that could bring.
“We hope as many people as possible come along and take part in the wide range of activities that have been organised, especially for families. We also hope it inspires people to consider active travel more frequently in future.”
On the day of the festival Stirling Gaelic Choir are also hosting a ceilidh dance at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Dumbarton Road, Stirling from 7.30-10.30pm.
There will be traditional music and dances with the Riverside Ceilidh Band. The band’s caller and choir members will be pleased to guide anyone uncertain of the steps through them to make sure everyone can join in the fun. Tickets cost £10 at the door (cash or card payment) or can be bought online at jumblebee.co.uk/stirlingceilidhdance. Children go free.
Stirling Gaelic Choir are also taking part in the Open Streets Festival earlier that day and will be singing at 3.30pm at the bottom of King Street.
Murray Place, Station Road, Friars Street, King Street and Port Street will be closed during the festival.
All disabled parking spaces displaced from the event space during the festival will be replaced on the perimeter of the event footprint and a drop off point will be located on Port Street.
Parking restrictions will be in place from 7pm on April 21 to 7pm on April 22. Roads will be closed from 5am till 7pm on Saturday. A free park and ride service will be in operation from Springkerse and Castleview.
The festival will also host a changing places toilet. The Mobiloo will be on site – a mobile vehicle toilet with hoist and changing table. Facility users are requested to bring their own sling should they wish to use the toilet – full info at www.mobiloo.org.uk.
For the full festival event programme see www.stirling.gov.uk.