Families can enjoy a fun challenge this festive season by finding and reuniting a group of penguins who have been lost across Stirling city centre.
They can follow the story of Chilly the Penguin who, along with members of his colony, has been separated and drifted away on an iceberg.
Go Forth Stirling’s Penguin Trail – `Chilly’s Family Reunion’ – offers the chance to find all the missing penguins by following a map around the city and visiting the 15 shops where a penguin is painted in the window.
The missing penguins, including Ice Cube, Halle Brrry, Penguini Alfredo and Hopper Potter, can be found in retailers whose windows have been hand-painted with festive penguin scenes by talented local signwriter Ross Hastie.
Families can pick up a map from Central Library or the Made In Stirling store or download one online at https://goforthstirling.co.uk/save-christmas/ and help reunite the penguin colony in time for Christmas by following clues around the city.
A range of city centre businesses are involved in the Penguin Trail, organised by Go Forth Stirling Business Improvement District (BID), which runs until Sunday January 5, 2025.
They include Amore Hair, Indian Cottage, Café Aina, TJ’s, Nationwide and Stirling Property while many businesses are offering penguin or Christmas-themed promotions and offers.
These include a colouring station at Clan Artisan, letters to Santa at Tinkerbell’s Emporium, a Cookie Station at Your Move and 10 per cent off at Christmas shop Tinsel & Tartan when participants show their trail map.
Josie Brown, Events Co-ordinator at Go Forth Stirling, has organised the city’s first Penguin Trail.
She said: “We hope families will get into the spirit of the season and enjoy some festive entertainment when they visit the city centre in the run up to Christmas and beyond.
“They can have some fun finding Chilly and the rest of the penguin colony while at the same time uncovering all the amazing shops, cafes and restaurants we have here in Stirling.
“A variety of businesses have joined the Trail and their shop windows have been painted with amazing penguin scenes by Ross Hastie. They look fantastic and we are pleased that so many retailers were keen to get involved and embrace the initiative.
“Many have come up with creative ideas as a bonus to the Penguin Trail such as the chance for children to stop for a free hot chocolate along the way at Mint Café, Friars Wynd Hotel and Scran@64.”
Once the Penguin Trail has been completed, the map can be handed in to Santa’s Post Box at the Go Forth Stirling office – 51 Baker Street – for entry into a prize draw.
Last year the BID organised the city’s first Gingerbread Trail which proved popular with families and helped increase footfall for businesses around the city in the run up to Christmas.
For more details visit www.goforthstirling.co.uk