The new parade is free for all the family to enjoy, so revellers should remember to dress up warm as there will be some chilling things on the streets of Stirling.
This year’s theme is ‘Stirling’s Witches’, with the gruesome tales of Stirling’s own uniquely macabre past being brought to life through spine-chilling street theatre, creepy traditional music and ghostly light shows.
A spooktacular spectacle ghosting through Stirling
Participants will be able to relive the sinister stories of local witches Mad Bessie’ Stivenson and Magdalene Blair, as the living mix with the stories and personalities who populated Stirling’s past, as interpreted by the Stirling GhostWalk's own Happy Hangman David Kinnaird.
The parade will gather on Port Street in the pedestrian area from 5pm then set off up King Street at 5.30pm.
Led by a special appearance of the Go Forth ghost train and Stirling and District Schools Pipe Band, the parade will make its way up to King Street and Baker Street, with some spooky surprises on the way, before finishing in Broad Street.
Convenor of the Community Planning and Regeneration Committee, Councillor Chris Kane said: “I would encourage anyone looking for thrills and chills to don their best guisin’ gear, pick up a lantern and make their way to the old town on Saturday night to help create a truly spooktacular spectacle through the heart of Stirling.
“With free potion and lantern making workshops also on offer during the day, the new parade will provide a suitably creepy conclusion to our Halloween celebrations, which I’m sure will offer authentic scares and surprises for children and families in equal measure.”
Stirling's sinister path comes back to life
Vice Convenor, Councillor Maureen Bennison said: “This free parade will resurrect some of the authentic figures of Stirling’s past, offering an insight into real tales of witchcraft and magic rooted in our history, while providing fun and frights for residents and visitors alike.
“The image of a witch wearing a black dress, pointy hat and green face paint is nothing like what real Stirling women such Bessie’ Stivenson and Magdalene Blair who were accused of witchcraft would have looked like. The parade will prove both entertaining and educational for people of all ages as hundreds of years of Stirling’s history emerge from the shadows to commemorate our own uniquely macabre story.”
The parade is a collaborative project between Stirling Council, Go Forth Stirling - Stirling's Business Improvement District, Historic Environment Scotland and Creative Stirling.
Spine-chilling fun for all the family
Go Forth Stirling Manager Mags Fenner said: “Go Forth Stirling are excited to be partnering with Stirling Council this halloween. The Stirling Land Train will be spooktastic in its halloween decorations and will be carrying children who won their place on the train in a Go Forth Stirling facebook competition.
“The weekend will also be the last chance for people to enter our Hallowe'en Trail. Maps are available at the Thistles Centre and Stirling Arcade with 12 witches to find in Stirling shop windows and an Ipad as a prize for one lucky winner. We're looking forward to a fun and busy weekend in the City Centre."
Get in the spirit for the parade at Herbal Magic and Potent Potions workshops, Lantern Making workshops and a Halloween Ceilidh at the Tolbooth in the afternoon.
Broad Street will be closed to traffic from 5.30pm to 8pm to allow for some safe family Halloween fun.
For more information please visit www.stirlingshalloween.co.uk and www.stirlingevents.org.