Pictish Drummers, Roman Soldiers, Highland Clans, pipe bands and handbell ringers are just some of the acts participating in opening night of the Pitlochry Autumn Festival on Friday 19th October. In all fifteen separate groups will be performing along the length of Pitlochry’s Main Street, between 6pm and 8pm.

Cathy Joss one of the members of the Pitlochry Autumn Festival organising committee said, “We are absolutely delighted with the response we have had from all the different groups we have approached to make the opening night of the Pitlochry Autumn Festival something really special. We have found different pitches for each event down the length of the main street. It will be similar in style and atmosphere to the Royal Mile at the Edinburgh Festival, but with a Highland Perthshire twist.”

The acts that have confirmed they will be participating in the opening night street festival are, Wolf Pict two pictish drummers who are very special, Antonine Guard Roman soldier, the Atholl Clan who are very appropriate with the current BBC series featuring Scottish Clans. The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, Dunkeld Handbell Ringers, Fred the Fiddler from Glen Lyon playing traditional jigs, reels and gypsy music, his aim is to get everyone dancing in the street. Pitlochry and Blair Atholl Pipe Band who will include some pipe music from Galicia in Spain. Silly McB the clown, Pedro the caricature artist, a juggler, singer and dancer from Pitlochry Youth Club. The Atholl Players are doing a skit on ‘Allo ‘Allo and will be walking round in German uniforms promoting their forth coming play. Clare Hewitt in the story telling yurt for children 5 to 12yrs old, ghost tours which are based on real happenings in and around Pitlochry. Michelle Hughes singing, outside McKays, and the Halloween Marquee with stalls and ‘special' Bits and Pieces.

It is also the first night of the 17-night Enchanted Forest event. This year’s theme is ‘Creation’ featuring creation of the earth from the very beginning with volcanoes, ice age and more. The event takes place around a small lochen at Faskally Woods just outside Pitlochry. The Pitlochry Autumn Festival runs for the same nights as the Enchanted forest with two sets of musicians busking in the street each night, as well as Halloween Marquee, Story Telling and ghost tours. Detailed nights by night programme of events are on the www.pitlochryautumnfestival.co.uk  web site for those planning to come to the event.

A week later ‘Perthshire Amber’ the Dougie MacLean festival starts on the 26th October all adding to a very busy and lively autumn for Pitlochry. This highly popular event has built up to a ten day festival in its own right with events taking place in Pitlochry and across Highland Perthshire.

For further details, please contact Cathy Joss 01796 472000 and James Rattray 01796 473335.