Bearsden Festival aims to revive traditional street games

Peevers (hopscotch) and kick the can might become more popular than Pokemon Go at this year's Bearsden Festival.
Bearsden Festival hopes to increase the popularity of traditional street games.Bearsden Festival hopes to increase the popularity of traditional street games.
Bearsden Festival hopes to increase the popularity of traditional street games.

While there may be a few Pokestops and certainly one Pokemon Gymn at Bearsden Cross on September 3 and 4 there will also be the revival of traditional street games.

Walter Proven, from the organising committee, said: “Along with the games come a lot of memories and stories and it is these stories we hope will be shaped as grandparents chat with their grandchildren about the days before Nintendo and Angry Birds.”

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The festival offers a variety of ways to get different generations in the local community together with a puppet show and short plays by Kilmardinny and Antonine Players.

As well as free taster workshops for ukulele and vocal and fiddle and chanter led by award winning tutors, a choice of Sunday strolls as well as a Celtic concert and a songs of praise service using songs from the civil rights movement.

There will also be an open stage in the playground at Bearsden Primary where local organisations and individuals will sing and play pipes, martial arts and one particularly creative group: Antonine Board Gamers will attempt crowd games with everyone.

The creator of the festival, Rev Roddy Hamilton, minister of New Kilpatrick Church, Bearsden, said: “There really is something for every generation.

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“The vintage bus that will take people short trips round the area will be particularly popular and it is all free. We simply want people to be together because we believe in community. This has been enabled by local community councils and others who have supported us.”

For more information visit the festival website www.bearsdenfestival.org or Facebook page (bearsden festival 2016) where traders and voluntary organisations have come together to create a community event that helps neighbour get to know neighbour and build a safer community, together.