Dundee WestFest is taking on the Wild West this weekend in an effort to reclaim the piggyback world record festival-goers won at Magdalen Green last year.
Organisers say the Americans have stolen WestFest’s official world record and they’re out to get it back in style on Sunday.
At last year’s Big Sunday 320 people crossed the finishing line, giving Dundee a new official Guinness World Record, but since then a group from Bishop England High School in South Carolina have beaten the Dundee record with 388 participants.
Big Sunday takes place on Magdalen Green this weekend, and WestFest are calling on Dundee families to turn up in numbers to beat the Americans.
”When I discovered we had been beaten I was gutted, especially after all the effort the people of Dundee put in last year, but I don’t think they will take it lying down,” WestFest co-chairman Alan Richardson said.
”We are also hoping to raise a bit of money for the local Million for a Morgue campaign, with each pair paying £3 to enter with all proceeds going to the charity.
”We are looking for at least 400 runners and riders to give us a reasonable chance of holding on to the record for some time.
”The Million for a Morgue campaign may not seem to be the most obvious charity but it’s certainly local to WestFest and once it is built and students train there the skills they develop will move out round the world with them, bringing huge benefits on potentially a global scale.”
Big Sunday takes place on Magdalen Green from 1pm with the piggyback race at around 1.30pm.
Some of Dundee’s finest bands, including Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward and Fisher, Revolver, Boston Tea Party, Mad Parrots, youngster Syann Gilroy and Jimi Hendrix Re-Experienced, will be on the Courier Rocktalk stage.
There will also be a disco on the bandstand, beer tent, displays of vintage vehicles, an art and craft market, side shows, various other stalls and lots of children’s activities.
Entry to the festival is free and more info on how to register for the piggyback world record attempt can be found at dundeewestfest.co.uk