Perth’s Winter Festival got off to a scarily good start this weekend as ghoulish procession of spooks and skeletons shuffled its way through the city centre.
Hundreds of families flocked to the Fair City for a night of fancy dress fun, complete with zombie maze, live music and dancing.
Saturday’s event began with a parade led by Perth and District Pipe Band, with prizes for this year’s best costumes.
A stage was set up in Horsecross Plaza, next to the concert hall, for a series of performances by local dance troupes.
Organisers also laid on carnival rides, while youngsters got the chance to try their hand at rock climbing.
The annual event has grown over the years, but this was the first under new organisers Horne’s Pleasure Fairs, History and Horror Tours and Castle Horror events.
The Halloween spectacle kick-started the city’s annual Winter Festival, a 16-week programme of entertainment, exhibitions and shopping events.
Brochures have been released for this year’s line-up, which aims to establish the Fair City as a destination for shoppers and visitors throughout the festive season.
The highpoint of the festival will be the Christmas Lights switch-on show weekend on November 16 and 17.
The main stage act for this year’s event – following in the footsteps of Peter Andre, Billy Ocean, Pixie Lott and James Arthur – has yet to be announced.
Before then, there will be more Halloween fun in Crieff on October 31, as the local community council hosts a party in the square with music, costumes and pumpkins. It runs from 5.30pm to 8pm.
The Perth Strathearn Round Table Bonfire Night will take place at the city’s South Inch on November 5 from 7pm.
This year’s Winter Festival programme also includes a festive feast, St Andrew’s celebrations in the city centre and a lantern parade.
Into the new year, organisers have lined up more illuminated walks along the River Tay – including a Burns Night celebration – and a party to mark Chinese New Year in February.
Recent economic studies have shown that big events on the festival calendar help pump more than £1 million into the city centre area.
