If you’ve just arrived in Stirling for a holiday, you may not be aware that the weekend of 27, 28 and 29 June will arguably be the most important moment in Stirling’s calendar for many years to come – it’s Stirling’s Big Weekend. Over these three days, the city will be buzzing with a range of unique events commemorating the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. It’s going to be an incredible few days – so get ready, and let us take you through what’s happening!
Provost Mike Robbins with young people taking part in Stirling's Big Weekend
Pipefest Friday 27 June: Starting the Big Weekend will be Pipefest – gathering hundreds of pipers, drummers, Highland dancers and clan members from both Scotland and across the world. If you want to immerse yourself in traditional Scottish culture (with a few contemporary twists) then now’s your chance! Make a date to watch the Pipefest parade, which will process from Stirling Castle and through the town on Friday 27 June from 7pm (though pipers will start gathering two hours before). There will be a Pipefest Ceilidh straight after the parade in the Albert Halls, Stirling, and you can book tickets for that here: http://www.pipefest.com/ceilidh/
The Armed Forces Day National Event is part of Stirling's Big Weekend
The Armed Forces Day National Event Saturday 28 June: The next day, Stirling will lead the nation in honouring Britain’s service men and women with a day packed full of military displays and activity in the Armed Forces Day National Event. A military parade will strike out at 11am, again from Stirling Castle, and wend its way through the Old Town to the event grounds just off Raploch Road. There follows a packed schedule of aerial displays including Tornado Flypasts, the Red Devils Parachute Team, and the Red Arrows Display Team. Underpinning activity in the sky, the main stage will see performances from The Kennedy Cup Cakes to Bags of Rocks, while the two arenas will stage military displays including The Royal Marine Band, working dog display teams and Royal Marine unarmed combat displays. For detailed information and also a brilliant list of free activities that are going on in the town at the same time, see http://www.stirlingarmedforcesday.co.uk/. Don’t miss the information under ‘more’ at the bottom of this web page!
Bannockburn Live will be the dramatic cornerstone of Stirling's Big Weekend
Bannockburn Live Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June: The new Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre and its surrounds will host Bannockburn Live on 28 and 29 June. During Bannockburn Live, around 300 re-enactors will recreate the spectacle of battle three times a day. Interactive medieval encampments will demonstrate how battle preparations were made, with working blacksmiths, kitchens, armouries and living quarters. Visitors will be able to trace their ancestry in the Clan and Family Village, as well as listen to the stories of around 40 Clans from Scotland, the UK and overseas. A food and drink village will not only provide visitors with the artisan and seasonal flavours of Scotland, but offer demonstrations of both modern and medieval cooking. Visitors will be able to both hear and create their own Scottish tales with music, song and storytelling workshops, as well as try their hand at ancient crafts. Meanwhile, the Main Stage will provide a musical backdrop to the festival, with a fantastic line-up of live music just announced, featuring artists including Dougie MacLean, Julie Fowlis and much more. For tickets to Bannockburn Live, and much more information, visit: http://www.bannockburnlive.com/
And it doesn’t end there – venues throughout Stirling will be celebrating the Big Weekend with their own unique events. Here are just a few:
- Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum will be hosting the Stirling Fringe’s Live Music and Family Entertainment Day on the 28th. Its free and its outdoors! http://www.smithartgalleryandmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/events
- The Tolbooth and Albert Halls will join forces to host Fiddlers Bid and Friends on Sunday 29, with information and tickets here: http://tolbooth.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth/whatson/june2014/fiddlers-bid-and-friends.htm
- The Wallace Monument will begin a programme of guided walks during which costumed actors will bring the Monument to life and you can meet Wallace himself: http://www.nationalwallacemonument.com/events2014.html
Be prepared – it will be a busy weekend, but one you will never forget!