Residents and visitors thronged to Stirling between 17-19 October to revel in scientific discovery – boosting the local economy, as well as the brainpower of all age groups.
Venues including The Tolbooth, Albert Halls, The Thistles, The Smith Museum, Codebase and Stirling Observatory, as well as libraries across the Stirling area, hosted events and drop-ins as the celebrations for Stirling 900 proved out of this world.
Sell out shows included Dynamic Earth’s Planetarium, star gazing at the Stirling Observatory, collage animation and a games design workshop at Codebase Stirling.
The Stirling Science Festival, funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by Stirling Council, also featured interactive shows, STEM crafts, Lego building, nature trails, play events, lectures – and even a Harry Potter-inspired potion making class.
Families were at the forefront of the Science Festival, with most of the events free of charge, which helped parents keep the kids entertained over the October holiday without breaking the bank.
Stirling Council leader, Cllr Margaret Brisley, said: “The Stirling Science Festival inspired exploration and discovery across all age groups over the three days and it was great to see so many venues across the city so busy with visitors.
“Stirling works hard to be recognised as an events destination and the Science Festival has become firmly established and has grown in popularity, year on year. That was highlighted again this time around by the number of events that reached capacity so quickly as a result of their popularity.
“It’s also important to the economic wellbeing of the area as the boost in the number of residents and visitors enjoying our hospitality and other businesses at this time of the year is recognised by our traders.
“A feature of the Stirling Science Festival is that so many events were, once again, free to attend – we know it’s something that families always appreciate in these budget-conscious times.”
The Stirling Science Festival attracted visitors from all over Stirling and the Forth Valley, as well as wider afield in Scotland and the UK.
Local sisters Carla (10) and Caitlin (8) summed the experience up best after they visited The Tolbooth for Dynamic Earth’s Planetarium show on Thursday.
Carla said: “We like space and the Dynamic Earth show really brought it to life for us. We did lots at the Stirling Science Festival – it was so much fun.”
