Bricklive Fantasy Trail Hailed a Success for Stirling
A fantasy trail featuring life-sized brick models has been hailed a success after attracting more than 8,000 visitors to Stirling.
Article Source: Go Forth Stirling
Last Updated: 1 November 2021 13:07
LIFE-SIZE BRICKLIVE FANTASY KINGDOM TRAIL A SUCCESS FOR STIRLING
A fantasy trail featuring life-sized brick models has been hailed a success after attracting more than 8,000 visitors to Stirling.
Go Forth Stirling BID brought Bricklive’s Fantasy Kingdom tour - a trail featuring dragons, wizards, castles and more – to the city centre during the October half-term break.
Residents and visitors from as far afield as Aberdeen and Dumfries were entertained by the event which featured 39 sculptures comprising 750,000 bricks.
A total of 8,562 people visited Bricklive increasing footfall for the city’s businesses and promoting Stirling as a family destination.
Danielle McRorie-Smith, Project Director at Go Forth Stirling, said: “We’re thrilled with the success of Bricklive – an event which fulfilled all our objectives.
“Families were delighted to be offered the chance of a free activity during the school holidays and our social media channels really took off with photos of people enjoying themselves alongside the sculptures in the city centre.
“We also had great feedback from our traders who reported more people coming into the city and staying longer which meant they benefited from extra footfall and business.
“Bricklive really did exceed our expectations drawing in 8,562 people who not only came from Stirling and the surrounding areas, such as Clackmannanshire and Falkirk, but from further away including visitors from Aberdeenshire, Perth & Kinross and Dumfries & Galloway.
“Our figures also show that 60% of attendees were not Stirling residents so the event successfully promoted Stirling as a destination for families to visit.
“We will definitely look at doing something similar again – perhaps another themed Bricklive trail – during the summer holidays next year.”
One of the most popular sculptures was the huge Green Dragon Tarygon in the Thistles which, along with the Throne and Chester the Jester, brought extra visitors into the Centre.
The Thistles, who partnered with Go Forth on the initiative, also had a face painter who painted 400 faces in five days.
Gary Turnbull, Centre Director at Thistles, said: "We were delighted to be involved with bringing Bricklive’s fantastic Fantasy Kingdom to Stirling and hope everyone in the community managed to enjoy the amazing sculptures.
"Visitors to the centre were really engaged with the characters we had displayed here especially the enormous dragon which proved to be a popular photo opportunity with many."
Texy Vera, who runs Vera Artisan Bakery in Barnton Street, was one of the independent traders taking part in Bricklive and enjoyed the extra footfall generated by families coming in to see their models.
She said: “We had three baby dragons and it was great fun being involved in the initiative.
“We had lots of families coming in with their maps and it was good to see them come over from the centre of town to visit us.
“A lot of people also bought something while they were here so the event helped our sales and also meant more people got to know about us and our location.
“So overall it was really positive for both families and small businesses.”
A variety of life-sized models – such as Abbra the Wizard, Sir Barriston the Knight, wolves, heraldic banners and birds of prey – could be found across Stirling by following the Trail around the city.
Families visited a range of retailers, including Stirling Distillery, Archie’s Pet Shop, TJs Restaurant and CR Cycles, as they followed the map and discovered all the sculptures making up the medieval fantasy land.
Dessert specialists Hamilton’s Cheesecakes had a dragon whelp at their Allan Park shop.
Owner Ian Hamilton said: “The model attracted a lot of people in and I thought the project was a really good idea.
“We had families in who were not from the Stirling area which was great and we also had people come in who were from Stirling but said they didn’t know we were here.
“It was good to welcome new faces and it helped our sales as we sold quite a few extra cheesecakes.”
Andrew Houston, of Archie’s Pet Shop in King Street, described the project as “well organised” and said it led to more visitors coming into his store.
He said: “There were extra people in on most days and more families in at the weekends and it was good to see more people than usual venturing up King Street and walking around the city.”
Go Forth Stirling BID was set up in 2017 and currently represents more than 600 local businesses with a key objective of delivering projects and services which improve Stirling’s trading environment to benefit businesses, shoppers and visitors.
The company will go to ballot next Spring in the hope of securing a further five-year term.
For more details visit www.goforthstirling.co.uk
Sponsored Links
Latest Stirling News
Secret New Tours at Stirling Castle offer behind the scenes access
Secret Stirling Tours – a new bespoke tour of Stirling Castle – launches today (Monday 15 September) giving visitors exclusive access to areas of the site that are normally closed to the public.
READ MORE
Local runner swaps sneakers for shackles in spooky Stirling shopping centre sleepover
A Stirling local is set to spend the night in one of the city’s most unusual, and eerie, locations to raise vital funds for children across the world.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.
READ MORE
Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025
Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!
READ MORE
Find your next business opportunity at Forth Valley Meet the Real Buyer event
Local businesses and social enterprises across the Forth Valley are being invited to explore supply chain opportunities in a free-to-attend event at Alloa Town Hall.
READ MORE
Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on
Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.
READ MORE
Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie
Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour
Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.
READ MORE
Fair Trade Stirling going the distance in cycling fundraiser for Malawi
Fair Trade Stirling is holding a sponsored bike ride to raise money for its long-term partners in the Karonga District of Malawi.
READ MORE
Iconic films to take centre stage at Vue venues in Scotland
Iconic movies celebrating key milestones this year are returning to Vue for a limited run - including Steven Spielberg classic Jaws.
READ MORE
20 expert sessions at The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show
The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be packed with expert speakers when it returns to the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on 4th – 5th October 2025.
READ MORE
A Taste of Loch Lomond Book launches with live cooking demo at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival
Love Loch Lomond will officially launch its new publication, A Taste of Loch Lomond – Stories and Flavours from the Bonnie Banks, at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival on Sunday 7th September.
READ MORE
Seriously fun ideas for your work Christmas Party
It might only be September, but the C-word is not too far away, so it's time to start thinking about planning the annual office Christmas shindig before everything gets booked up!
READ MORE
Business Gateway launches its first ever Scottish Start Up Month
Business Gateway, Scotland's national business support service, has launched Scottish Start-Up Month, a nationwide campaign to celebrate Scotland's entrepreneurial spirit.
READ MORE
Go Forth Stirling Launch 2026 Business Awards
Stirling’s outstanding independent and national retailers are set to be recognised and rewarded at the city’s 2026 Business Awards.
READ MORE
Drop in sessions begin on draft Visitor Levy scheme for Stirling
Businesses, visitors and residents are urged to feedback on Stirling’s draft Visitor Levy scheme as drop-in sessions begin.
READ MORE
Fresh new line up for one of the biggest FREE food and drink festivals in Scotland
Vikings, a pie eating competition, new celebrated chef and dog & duck shows set to bring new energy to Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival this September.
READ MORE
From pouring pints to the red carpet: The Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 crowns its hospitality stars!
The winners of the 2025 Scottish Bar & Pub Awards were unveiled on the 26th of August at a glittering, Oscars-themed ceremony held at the Doubletree by Hilton, Glasgow.
READ MORE
Stirling Photography Festival goes Beyond with exhibitions across Stirlingshire
The Stirling Photography Festival is proud to announce the launch of a series of exhibitions in rural Stirling as part of their 2025 programme.
READ MORE
Stirling marks 30th Anniversary of Braveheart
Braveheart continues to be a huge draw for visitors to Scotland as Stirling prepares to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Oscar-winning epic.
READ MORE
Best Croissant Competition returns for 2025
The Edinburgh Butter Company has announced the return of its ‘Scotland’s Best Croissant’ competition on Monday 13th October.
READ MORE
New Forth Valley Five Campaign Launches to Champion Local Food and Drink
Businesses across Stirling and beyond are being invited to take the ‘Forth Valley Five’ pledge: a bold new initiative designed to celebrate local food and drink and boost community wealth.
READ MORE
Historic Environment Scotland launches Talking About Heritage
People across Scotland invited to take part in national conversation about heritage.
READ MORE
Clans @ The Croft team mountain bike enduro event returns
A multiple Clan skirmish of epic proportions is on the cards again for mountain bike Enduro riders when Clans @ The Croft, the first team event on the UK's Enduro calendar, returns to Creiff.
READ MORE
Tickets now on sale for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo closes the drawbridge on its 75th anniversary Show, as tickets for next year go on sale.
READ MORE
Call for sites and ideas for new Local Development Plan in Stirling
Residents, community groups and other key stakeholders will have the opportunity to shape Stirling’s future as the consultation on the area’s new Local Development Plan enters crucial new phase.
READ MORE
Primark celebrates 50 years in Scotland with a wee nod to loyal Scots in all stores today
Scottish shoppers will hardly believe it when they see it today as Primark finally relents on one of its biggest brand debates after 50 years.
READ MORE
Christmas at Crieff Hydro returns with magical line up of festive activities
Scotland's best loved family resort, Crieff Hydro, has unveiled details of a specially curated programme of events as it prepares to welcome guests over the festive period.
READ MORE
Scots Language Awards 2025 shortlist unveiled
The shortlist for the Scots Language Awards 2025 has been unveiled, with figures from Scottish literature, theatre, education and business all in the running for awards at the annual ceremony.
READ MORE
Innis & Gunn wins double gold at the World Beer Awards 2025
Innis & Gunn has claimed double gold on the global stage, winning best in Scotland for the second year running at the World Beer Awards.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links