A brand new light and fire festival is set to be staged in Perthshire next year.
Plans are in place to stage Crieff Fire and Light Festival in March 2020, with a trail around the town.
The event will see visitors following the route around the town centre, where there will be theatrical performances, animation, audience interactions, fire performers and audio-visual projections onto various buildings.
It will take in landmarks such as Leadenflower, Old St Michael’s Church, Crieff Town Hall and James Square.
It is being organised by Crieff Succeeds BID, which says the production will include elements of drama and humour which draws inspiration from the area’s rich heritage, such as its Jacobite connections and the torching of Crieff in the early 18th century.
When Perth and Kinross Council’s environment and infrastructure committee meets tomorrow (Wednesday, October 30), councillors are expected to approve £24,900 worth of funding from its rural events budget for the festival.
This comes after Crieff Succeeds had previously planned to stage a winter festival last year in Drummond Castle Gardens. That particularly event was due to be history-themed and draw on Crieff’s Jacobite heritage as well.
Crieff Succeeds at that point was given £30,000 from Perth and Kinross Council to stage that event, but despite bringing on experts from The Enchanted Forest for it, it never went ahead.
Cllr Angus Forbes, convener of environment and infrastructure at the council, said: “I am very pleased to see Crieff Succeeds Ltd return with a proposal for this event.
“This cultural event would be of great benefit to the Crieff town centre, giving locals and visitors alike a great chance to spend the day exploring the local area, and then experience the fire and light festival at night in the town.
“It is my hope that if the event takes place in 2020, that it will become a successful reoccurring cultural event in Crieff.”
Should the money be granted, it is expected the festival will take place on the week beginning March 2.
David McCann, manager of Crieff Succeeds, said: “The fire and light festival would be a wonderful opportunity to showcase Crieff’s cultural and heritage assets but also to both highlight and celebrate the town’s fascinating history.
“I am grateful to Perth and Kinross Council for giving consideration to the event and hope that next year we will be shining a ‘very bright light’ on the beautiful and historic town of Crieff which will be seen by folk from all over the nation.”
The council’s environment and infrastructure committee meets tomorrow afternoon to discuss the funding proposal.
