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
Young people at HMP & YOI Polmont crown top dog in Stirling
Young people at HMP & YOI Polmont crown ‘Captain Chaos’ Layton as Stirling’s top dog in Thistles’ photography competition
READ MORE
Celebrate love with your PAWfect Valentine at Dobbies Garden Centres
Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting pet parents to celebrate Valentine's Day with their beloved furry friends in selected stores across the country!
READ MORE
Primary schools in Scotland given chance to win specifically curated Burns Supper from Aldi
Aldi Scotland is giving primary school pupils across Scotland the chance to enjoy a truly traditional Burns Supper, complete with all the trimmings, including a bagpiper.
READ MORE
Glasgow International Comedy Festival launches 2026 programme with over 100,000 tickets on sale
Glasgow International Comedy Festival has announced the full programme for 2026's event with 560 shows in 40 venues across the city from 11th - 29th March, and over 100,000 tickets now on sale!
READ MORE
Celebrate Burns Night 2026 at Flight Club
If you're looking for a fun way to celebrate Burns Night this year, head to Flight Club!
READ MORE
Everything you need to know about Celtic Connections 2026
The renowned festival which every year transforms Glasgow in January into a must-visit destination for music lovers is now just over a week away.
READ MORE
Zizzi launches their January Birthday Jackpot
Zizzi's January Birthday Jackpot guarantees a special gift for adults born in January, with some lucky birthday guests receiving the jackpot prize - £100 towards their bill!
READ MORE
Litter picking dog charity aims to remove 44 million pieces of rubbish in 2026
Dog owners making an environmental New Year Resolution are hoped to boost the ranks of the Paws On Plastic charity to over 30,000 in 2026!
READ MORE
Brand new craft event encourages mindfulness, creativity and relaxation
Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting customers along to an afternoon of creativity, connection, and cake this January, with a brand-new Crafternoon Tea Club.
READ MORE
Famous faces share their DofE Award memories in celebration of their 70th anniversary
Anyone with a connection to The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is being invited to celebrate the charity's 70th anniversary by sharing their fondest DofE memories.
READ MORE
Dry or Try January: Flight Club is your go to January social spot
Whether you're ditching the booze and going dry for a month or embracing Try January with the goal of experiencing new things, Flight Club, ticks all the boxes!
READ MORE
Christmas has arrived in Glasgow, The IRN BRU Carnival returns for its 106th year
Europe's largest indoor fun fair, The IRN-BRU Carnival, has opened to the public at Glasgow's SEC with its greatest show to date!
READ MORE
DF Concerts & Events launches The DF Academy
DF Concerts launches the DF Academy to strengthen pathways between education and Scotland's live music & events industry.
READ MORE
Stirling Visitor Levy Scheme approved
Stirling Council has approved a visitor levy scheme that will enable major new investment in the area’s tourism offering.
READ MORE
DF Concerts & Events celebrates a year of sustainable and inclusive events
DF Concerts & Events is celebrating the success of their sustainability initiatives delivered across their major summer events in 2025.
READ MORE
Scottish jazz talent in tune as award winners unveiled
The Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 celebrated the cream of the crop in the jazz scene on Sunday night, honouring outstanding artists and contributors at a memorable ceremony in Glasgow.
READ MORE
Anna Campbell Jones launches small batch Scottish botanical rum distilled in Glasgow
Interior designer, BBC Scotland's Home of the Year judge and entrepreneur Anna Campbell-Jones has released her first spirit.
READ MORE
Celebrate South Asian cinema this December with a selection of releases at Vue
There’s plenty for fans of South Asian cinema to enjoy at Vue this December, with a number of titles heading to the big screen.
READ MORE
Go Forth Stirling announce Longlist for 2026 Stirling Business Awards
The Go Forth team has announced the longlist for the 2026 Stirling Business Awards as voting begins to choose the winners of the annual honours.
READ MORE
Name the Loganair Christmas puffin and win a family adventure
Loganair, the UK’s leading regional airline, has launched a new festive competition to name the puffin starring in its emotional Christmas advert.
READ MORE
Loch Lomond Shores Christmas Festival is a Christmas cracker this year!
A family rollercoaster, giant snow globe, rides, stalls, street food and live entertainment makes Loch Lomond Shores FREE Christmas festival the perfect Christmas day out for all the family!
READ MORE
Young Stirlingshire golfers follow in footsteps of Ryder Cup heroes
Two young golfers from Stirlingshire are aiming to make history in Portugal in December when they tee off in the 2025 Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship at Quinta do Lago.
READ MORE
Zizzi celebrates a fresh era with a new menu and app, by giving 132 people free pasta for one year
Zizzi has introduced a new food & drink menu across all its restaurants, launched a brand-new Zizzi app, and is giving 132 people free pasta for one year.
READ MORE
Festive Season at Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection
Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection have launched some new offerings designed for memorable Christmas stays, spectacular Hogmanay celebrations, and cozy winter escapes.
READ MORE
Bridge of Allan restaurant launches festive feast Take Home Christmas Box
The Meadowpark, one of Bridge of Allan’s most popular family restaurants, is bringing the magic of festive dining to homes around Stirling this Christmas.
READ MORE
Second year of Urban Forestry Programme opens across Scotland
Community groups, organisations and schools across Scotland are being invited to apply for grants of up to £100,000.
READ MORE
BID Launches Drop In Business Hour Session for Stirling Business Community
Go Forth Stirling has launched a new initiative for the city’s business community giving them the opportunity to consult with the BID team and other partners.
READ MORE
Residents and businesses invited to Forthside project drop in event
A drop-in session is being held on Friday (21 November) for local residents and businesses to learn more about the major redevelopment at Forthside.
READ MORE
Residents and businesses across Stirling urged to get ready for winter
Residents and businesses across Stirling are being urged to get ready for the impacts of wintry weather as the council steps up its preparations to keep people safe in adverse conditions.
READ MORE
The Doddie Weir match ball delivery is voted Greatest Murrayfield Moment
Doddie Weir’s emotional match ball delivery at Murrayfield in 2017 has been voted the greatest moment in the stadium’s 100-year history, after thousands of fans took part in a nationwide poll.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links