Fans of Oor Wullie are preparing to say goodbye to the hugely successful bucket trail this weekend, just days before 70 of the statues are auctioned off for charity.
Over 100 Wullies will be displayed in the city’s Slessor Gardens from Friday until Sunday to give everyone a final chance to complete their bucket lists.
The highly anticipated event will attract thousands of visitors from across the country in a final celebration of the summer-long trail.
Neil Cooney, project manager from the Archie Foundation, said he was looking forward to the event.
“We are all very excited about it – it’s going to be great,” he said.
“We have been really taken aback by how well supported everything has been. There has been over 13,000 tickets sold and we probably expect some folk to turn up on the day.
“The Oor Wullies themselves have never looked better. The artists’ coordinator Suzanne Scott has been making them look tip-top.
“After the event they’ll be going directly to the Rep.
“Despite everything else going on it’s always important to come back to its purpose – raising money for Archie. The show of support from the public to the Archie appeal is exceptional.”
Most of the statues are those that were spread across Dundee as part of the official trail, while others come from the touring group that visited cities right across Scotland between June and August.
In addition, around 30 mini Wullies, created by Dundee schools, will be showcased before being returned to the classrooms they came from.
The money raised from tickets to the event will be added into the Archie Foundation’s ongoing appeal for a new twin operating theatre paediatric surgical suite for Tayside Children’s Hospital.
Tickets are required to get into the event and can be booked through the city box office.
Meanwhile, there has been a final push for support among communities hoping to bring home one of the Wullies at Tuesday’s auction.
It is thought each statue will be sold for £2,000 or more at the event at the Dundee Rep.
A livestream will also be run to allow bidders from further afield to get involved.
Thousands of pounds have already been committed to crowdfunding efforts started by groups including the Broughty Ferry Lifeboat Station and Ninewells Hospital staff.
