A FREE event is set to mark Earth Day in a unique way during Stirling’s Open Streets Festival later in April.

King, Friars and Port streets as well as a part of Murray Place will be closed to vehicles on Saturday, April 22, for a range of fun, family-friendly activities between 10am and 4pm.

There will be come-and-try sports, live music, arts and crafts, story sessions, a silent disco and historical walking tours as part of the festival.

Information stalls for a range of environmental groups will also be in place, along with advice about active travel, sustainable living and various activities.

The festival is being organised by Stirling Council in partnership with Go Forth Business Improvement District and will offer a unique, pedestrian-focused environment for residents and visitors, who can experience the busy city centre streets and enjoy its shops, cafes and attractions with reduced traffic congestion and environmental impact.

Stirling Council leader Chris Kane said: “We are delighted to welcome Open Streets into the city centre for the second year to showcase the best that Stirling has to offer.

“It’s a terrific chance for retailers, residents and visitors to visualise the possibilities of a car free city centre and the economic and environmental benefits that could bring.

“We hope as many people as possible come along and take part in the wide range of activities that have been organised, especially for families.

“We also hope it inspires people to consider active travel more frequently in future.”

Earth Day is a global movement where people around the world are encouraged to raise awareness of environmental issues and commit to a sustainable and equitable future for our planet.

This year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest in our Planet” and families are being encouraged to leave their cars at home and walk, cycle or take public transport to get to the event.

Stirling Council declared a climate emergency in April 2019 and is committed to achieving net zero carbon by 2045, becoming carbon neutral for its own operations by 2035.

Danielle McRorie-Smith, project director at Go Forth Stirling BID, added: “The Open Streets programme offers a great opportunity for our excellent businesses to showcase all that they have to offer and what is best about their neighbourhoods.

“This is a great opportunity for local businesses to be innovative and attract new customers by engaging with the wide variety of events on offer.”

Visit here for the full programme.