Enchanted Forest Smashes all Previous Box Office Records

Organisers of The Enchanted Forest, a Perthshire Big Tree Country event, are predicting that the event will break through the 30,000 barrier for the first time since the event began. Ticket sales for the event have already smashed all previous box office records, so far welcoming over 27,000 visitors and, with one week still to run, expectations are high that a new record will be set.

The news comes just 2 weeks before the event goes head to head with some of Scotland’s biggest tourism operators at this year’s Thistle Awards for the coveted title of VisitBritain Marketing Campaign of the Year.

The Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company has successfully run the multi-award winning show since 2010, growing the event substantially in just 3 years by almost 50% taking the event from around 20,000 visitors in 2010 to the highly anticipated 30,000 visitors in 2012.

Eddie Thomson, chairman of the Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company commented:

“Every year, demand for the event increases and this year has been unprecedented with tickets selling faster than ever before.

Our box office has worked around the clock to ensure everyone gets their tickets. This is fantastic news for the local area – with a 50% increase in visitors coming to the show over the last three years, over half of which stay in the area overnight, it represents a significant boost to the income of businesses in the area, from shops to restaurants to hotels at a time when many businesses across the UK are tightening their belts.”

The 2012 show “FLOW” has been designed by a creative team led by Derek Allan which includes Scottish designers Simon Wilkinson (lighting) and RJ McConnell (sound), as well as Dundee based visual artists Dalziel + Scullion, whose work is supported thanks to the generosity of a grant from Creative Scotland in celebration of Year of Creative Scotland 2012.

Together they have created a dazzling and engaging show which not only celebrates 10 Years of The Enchanted Forest but is, in itself, a celebration of the stunning woodland setting in which the event is set. Visitors have taken to the social networking site Facebook to express their appreciation for the show:

“What an amazing night my daughter and I had there tonight, just so brilliant and everyone so nice and helpful thanks to all who make it possible.” Mhairie Dinsdale

“My son has just got back from seeing the Forest tonight. He has autism and the whole light experience has stimulated him very much. Best day ever he said.” Julie Naylor

The show even prompted the country’s top tourism chief Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, to write to show organisers personally, expressing:

“It is one of the most exciting and inspirational creative exhibitions I have seen throughout this Year of Creative Scotland”

Tricia Fox, marketing manager for The Enchanted Forest said “We are extremely pleased with the performance of this year’s show – there’s a lot of hard work and planning goes into a show of this scale and it’s rewarding that demand continues to increase year on year. There are some tickets left for shows this week however folks had better be quick if they are still thinking about coming to the event this year – they are selling out quickly!”

For further information about the Enchanted Forest and to purchase tickets, visit the Enchanted Forest website at www.enchantedforest.org.uk. The show closes to the public on Saturday 27th October.

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Tourism Chief Says Forest Event is Tree-Mendous Way to See Scotland

VisitScotland chairman, Mike Cantlay, has stated today that The Enchanted Forest, a Perthshire Big Tree Country event and Scotland’s premier sound and light show, is a must see event for visitors to Scotland this Autumn, embodying the essence of the country’s national tourism message: Surprise Yourself. Visit Scotland.

Visiting the event on its opening night with his family, Mike Cantlay saw the multi-coloured event unfold in all its glory. He commented:

“The Enchanted Forest is a spectacular and incredibly popular event, which attracts tens of thousands of people to visit Perthshire each year, and I am confident it will be a box office ticket smash again this year.

My family and I had a wonderful time at the Enchanted Forest and it proves you don’t have to travel very far to experience Scotland’s vibrant culture, which is so evident in every corner of this country.”

The Enchanted Forest now attracts visitors from all over the UK and, indeed, the world and the positive impact on the local area is estimated to be well in excess of £1.5 million economic benefit every year.

With box office numbers soaring, the impact on the local economy is expected to increase and closer working relationships with key businesses this year are set to enhance the offering for visitors to the area this Autumn.

A number of local tourism businesses are working collaboratively to promote the event, with local accommodation providers offering deals that include tickets to the event, and other visitor attractions offering discount entry for Enchanted Forest ticket holders.

Blair Castle on Atholl Estates is one of the businesses that is promoting discounted entry during the show. Mike Dukes, Head of Visitor Services at Atholl Estates explained why:

“The Enchanted Forest is a firm favourite amongst families and creates a real buzz across the region as people flock from across the country to come and see the spectacular light displays. The fact that the exhibitions are refreshed each year also means that we see a flurry of new visitors through our doors when the event is on. It also provides a very welcome boost to businesses across the surrounding area and we’re delighted to extend a warm Highland Perthshire welcome to The Enchanted Forest’s customers.”

Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland added:

“The success of The Enchanted Forest has a knock-on positive effect on the local economy and I would encourage businesses, accommodation providers and the tourism sector to seize the opportunity this provides to showcase to visitors all that this fabulous area has to offer.

In this, The Year of Creative Scotland, we have the chance to spotlight, celebrate and promote Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths, so let’s embrace this and show what a warm welcome Scotland can offer each and every visitor!”

Organisers are encouraging members of the public to buy their tickets in advance to avoid disappointment with recent box office reports suggesting the event is on target to power past all previous box office records.
Following a successful opening weekend demand for tickets has surged indicating that the 2012 event is set to sell out.

Derek Allan, creative director of The Enchanted Forest 2012, commented:

“Last year many people travelled significant distances to attend the event, all we’re asking is that they plan ahead and book their tickets in advance. Tickets sell so quickly and many shows are already sold out with hardly any tickets left for the most popular Saturday nights – a little bit of advance planning can avoid disappointment on the night.”

The 2012 show “FLOW” has been designed by a creative team led by Derek Allan which includes Scottish designers Simon Wilkinson (lighting) and RJ McConnell (sound), as well as Dundee based visual artists Dalziel + Scullion, whose work is supported thanks to the generosity of a grant from Creative Scotland in celebration of Year of Creative Scotland 2012.

The event runs from Friday 5th October – Saturday 27th October. For further information about the Enchanted Forest and to book tickets, visit the Enchanted Forest website.

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Enchanted Forest Dazzles with 10th Anniversary Show

The Enchanted Forest, a Perthshire Big Tree Country event and Scotland’s premier sound and light show, launched last night in an array of dazzling colours to a select audience of press and VIPs at Forestry Commission Scotland’s Faskally Wood near Pitlochry.

The event, which celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year, is hoping to beat all previous box office records, attracting almost 30,000 visitors in 2012.

The 2012 show “FLOW” has been designed by a creative team led by Derek Allan which includes Scottish designers Simon Wilkinson (lighting) and RJ McConnell (sound), as well as Dundee based visual artists Dalziel + Scullion, whose work is supported thanks to the generosity of a grant from Creative Scotland in celebration of Year of Creative Scotland 2012. Together they have created a dazzling and engaging show which not only celebrates 10 Years of The Enchanted Forest, but is in itself a celebration of the stunning woodland setting in which the event is set.

Derek Allan, creative director of The Enchanted Forest 2012, commented:

“We have worked tirelessly this year to ensure we deliver a show that is creatively interesting and visually stunning. Thanks to funding from Creative Scotland we have been able to work with some of Scotland’s most exciting designers to deliver an experience that I am certain our visitors will find breath-taking and unique. We were inspired by the stunning natural woodland that is Faskally Wood and this year’s show aims to enhance visitor appreciation of the forest in which The Enchanted Forest is set.”

Pete Wishart, Member of Parliament for Perth and North Perthshire, formally opened the show on Thursday night, commenting:

“This is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s finest events. Not only does it provide an essential boost for the local economy, it opens up the beauty of this area’s stunning scenery to literally thousands of people, and showcases it in a brand new light. I can’t think of a better way to cheer up these October evenings than a trip to The Enchanted Forest.”

James McDougall from Forestry Commission Scotland, from whom the idea for The Enchanted Forest event first originated back in 2002, also attended the launch:

“It’s incredible to see the show’s success over the last 10 years. I’m really proud that it’s grown from the humble beginnings of just 2500 visitors in its first year to over 10 times its size and firmly established itself as one of Scotland’s flagship events attracting visitors from all around the world.

The Enchanted Forest is a fantastic showcase for Scotland’s woodland beauty and I’m really very proud to have founded an event that has captured the imagination of so many people. The work of Forestry Commission Scotland is so much more than planting trees and through this event we have been able to support tourism, strengthen communities and attract more people out into our woodlands. ”

The event runs from Friday 5th October – Saturday 27th October. Tickets are in very high demand this year with many shows already sold out. For further information about the Enchanted Forest and to book tickets, visit the Enchanted Forest website.

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Tale as Old as Time

Visitors to The Enchanted Forest will be given a unique opportunity to participate in one of the world’s most traditional and ancient arts this year: Storytelling.

Taking up residence in The Enchanted Forest local storyteller, Claire Hewitt, will be entertaining visitors to the show at Faskally Wood every night from the warmth of her cosy storytelling yurt. With song, celtic harp and bhodran she will bewitch children and adults alike with her traditional Celtic stories and tales of the forest.

She will be joined on Tuesday 23rd October by two storytellers from France, Brigitte Kloareg and the Perthshire born Fiona MacLeod, who are participating in the Scottish International Storytelling Festival which runs from 19th – 28th October.

This annual celebration of traditional and contemporary storytelling brings together artists and audiences from across the world to entertain and inspire with live storytelling performances and fun family activities.

Derek Allan, creative director of The Enchanted Forest commented “The Enchanted Forest is a unique opportunity for visitors to really see the forest brought to life and the added element of ancient storytelling this year just brings a new dimension to the show.”

“We are delighted that as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival that we are able to welcome such world renowned storytellers, Brigitte and Fiona, to join with Claire in making this a very special evening indeed.”

Brigitte is a traditional singer heavily involved in promoting the oral heritage of Brittany and Fiona, originally from Perthshire, also lives in France and has been instrumental in the revival of France’s storytelling traditions.

Story sessions will take place every night between 7pm and 9pm and access to the storytelling yurt will be on a first come, first served basis. Admission is exclusive to The Enchanted Forest visitors and costs £1 per person.

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Enchanted Forest Flows Back to Faskally for its 10th Year

Over 25,000 tickets have gone on sale this weekend for the 10th Anniversary production of the multi-award winning sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest.

Perthshire Big Tree Country’s premier event, this year entitled FLOW, will also return to the stunning autumnal setting of Faskally Wood near Pitlochry during its 2012 run which will see the forest come to life every evening from Friday 5th – Saturday 27th October.

The Enchanted Forest first took place in October 2002 at The Hermitage near Dunkeld and has been based in Pitlochry since 2005, seeing almost 150,000 visitors flock to the area for the spectacle over the last nine years.

Using the natural environment as the backdrop for a traditional son et lumiere show, the event now attracts international acclaim and has racked up a string of awards in recent years including the top gong at the Scottish Event Awards, VisitScotland’s Regional Thistle Award for Marketing and the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Event of the Year Award.

This year’s show, FLOW, has been developed through a new artistic collaboration between lighting designer Simon Wilkinson, sound designer & composer RJ McConnell and Dundee based visual artists Dalziel + Scullion, whose work is supported thanks to the generosity of a grant from Creative Scotland in celebration on Year of Creative Scotland 2012.

Derek Allan, Creative Director at the Enchanted Forest, said: “The Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company is very excited at the prospect of working with renowned visual artists Dalzeil and Scullion and to combining their creativity with our award winning designers Simon Wilkinson Lighting Designer and RJ McConnell Sound Designer and thank Creative Scotland for providing the support to make it happen in our 10th Anniversary Year.”

Eddie Thomson, chair of the Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company which delivers The Enchanted Forest commented, “We are extremely excited about this year’s 10th anniversary event. We have the support of the community, the backing of Creative Scotland and formidable creative and operations teams, who together achieved record results with last year’s show, bringing over 26,500 visitors to the area at this very crucial time of year for local tourism.”

He continued “We are confident that this year’s show will deliver the wow factor that The Enchanted Forest customers expect and give everyone good cause to celebrate 10 years of holding this event in Highland Perthshire”

The Enchanted Forest will take place from Friday 5th – Saturday 27th October 2012 at Forestry Commission Scotland’s Faskally Wood near Pitlochry. Tickets are now on sale to the general public. For further information please visit www.EnchantedForest.org.uk

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Creative Scotland Backs The Enchanted Forest

Over £1.2 million has been invested in thirty-two innovative collaborations between the tourism and culture sectors to promote Scotland’s creativity on a global platform and raise the country’s profile as a tourist destination.

On a visit to the Enchanted Forest near Pitlochry in Perthshire, Iain Munro, Director of Creative Development for Creative Scotland, announced a range of projects, including plans for the renowned visual artists Dalziel + Scullion to introduce a new dimension to the spectacular sound and light show.

Speaking from the Enchanted Forest, Iain Munro, Director of Creative Development for Creative Scotland, said:

‘The Year of Creative Scotland is a chance for us to celebrate and promote Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths at home and on a world stage. These awards will enhance Scotland’s position as a tourist destination to national and international visitors alike and one of the world’s leading creative nations.

‘We are thrilled to make this announcement in the company of renowned visual artists Dalziel + Scullion. The Enchanted Forest already draws in great audiences, attracting over 26,000 visitors in 2011, their work will see even more visitors to this already magical event during 2012 the Year of Creative Scotland.’

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said:

“Through the Year of Creative Scotland, visitors and native Scots are being encouraged to see, experience and contribute to Scotland’s rich culture and heritage.

“The funding streams set up to support the Year ‘s diverse range of cultural activity, are having a remarkable impact on our communities. Supported projects like the introduction of visual art to the Enchanted Forest, are helping to showcase, celebrate and promote Scotland’s cultural strengths on the world stage, to both international and local visitors.

“That is why I announced earlier this month that a further £2.2m would be available for the expansion of this important work – taking the total support for the Year of Creative Scotland to almost £8 million.”

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland said:

“One of the main strands behind the Year of Creative Scotland is to introduce new opportunities for visitors to see and experience Scotland’s vibrant culture across all regions. It’s fantastic to see so many great initiatives and festivals across the country benefitting from this funding boost, which we hope will attract even more visitors over the coming months.”

Derek Allan, Creative Director at the Enchanted Forest, said:

“The Highland Perthshire Community Interest Company is very excited at the prospect of working with renowned visual artists Dalzeil and Scullion and to combining their creativity with our award winning designers Simon Wilkinson Lighting Designer and Ronnie Mcconnell Sound Designer and thank Creative Scotland for providing the support to make it happen in our 10th Anniversary Year”’.

Offering up hospitality packages, accommodation deals and promoting other local attractions, creative collaborations reach from the Borders to the Orkney isles. Programme highlights include, Wild at Art, a range of creative holidays around Scotland, with workshops run by local artists and visits to cultural attractions, targeted at overseas visitors. On receiving investment, Ute Johnston, Director of Wild at Art, stated: ‘Creative Scotland’s support will be crucial for getting our project off the ground. It will help us to develop a sustainable business model and contribute to putting Scotland on the map of creative destinations.’

Visitors to Aberdeenshire will experience a new annual crime writing weekend in Haddo House, with talks by national and international crime writers, children’s events, and crime themed tours of Scotland’s castles. The Borders will delight in a community-wide celebration and exploration of the recently discovered Hawick Missal, a rare fragment from a medieval manuscript. The programme will include commissioned choral performances at both Melrose and Jedburgh Abbeys by Scottish and European composers.

In Dundee, Artist Jaygo Bloomn will create an augmented gallery across the city where audiences will be able to navigate the artworks in real time using their smartphones. Glasgow will enjoy a celebration of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. While in Orkney, International contemporary art festival Papay Gyro Nights will develop its successful artist exchange programme and John O’Groats will see the creation of a major permanent artwork.

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The Enchanted Forest to go Head to Head at The Scottish Thistle Awards

The Enchanted Forest, a multi-award winning event, is set to go head to head this week with some of the North East of Scotland’s top tourism businesses at the regional final of the Scottish Thistle Awards, to be held next Tuesday in Aberdeen.

If successful the event, which currently holds the coveted Event Management Grand Prix from the 2011 Scottish Event Awards, will secure a place in the national final this November.

Shortlisted in the VisitBritain Marketing Campaign of the Year Award, The Enchanted Forest will be keeping its branches crossed that its 29% increase in visitor numbers in 2011 will seal the deal as they compete against The Hilton at Coylumbridge for the title.

This year’s Scottish Thistle Awards, which recognise excellence in the Scottish tourism industry, are running with a new regional format which aims to recognise the exceptional efforts made by even more tourism businesses throughout Scotland.

The Enchanted Forest is not the only Perthshire business nominated and will be supporting its colleagues which include; The Famous Grouse Experience, Perthshire Amber, Perthshire Racecourse and Hilton Dunkeld House.

Richard Pinn, Regional Director for VisitScotland, said;

“We are delighted that Perthshire’s tourism businesses have made it through to the regional final of the Scottish Thistle Awards. The region has a great tourism offering in terms of the quality of things to see and do and places to stay here and these nominated businesses have an excellent chance of securing a place at the national Scottish Thistle Awards which will take place this November.”

The ceremony for the North East region takes place on Tuesday 15th May at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

The Scottish Thistle Awards celebrate excellence across the industry with special emphasis on quality and enhancing the overall visitor experience. VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme seeks to capitalise on this further and aims to position Scotland as one of the world’s best visitor destinations.

VisitScotland will work closely with winners to tailor make a package of benefits to best suit the winners’ needs. This could include, amongst many other options: entry into the Quality Assurance scheme, advertising, promotion in a VisitScotland Information Centre, promotion in VisitScotland PR activity.

Richard Pinn added: “To make the most of the opportunities presented by the next few Winning Years and to capitalise on once in a lifetime milestones like the Olympics, Disney Brave and Glasgow 2014 – the tourism industry as a whole needs to be as polished as it can be. This drive for quality is even more important when we are in the international spotlight.

Businesses need to think about what can help them to shine – whether it’s a Scottish Thistle Award or being graded in our world leading Quality Assurance scheme – now is the time for businesses to do all they can to stay at the very top of their game and reap the rewards.”

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The Enchanted Forest Looks to Local Business for Support

The Enchanted Forest, the multi-award winning Perthshire Big Tree Country event, which this year attracted over 26,000 visitors to the Highland Perthshire area, is calling on the local business community to get behind it with a bold and unprecedented move to raise £40,000 of private funding from the businesses that the event directly benefits.

In recent years The Enchanted Forest, which is set to return to nearby Faskally Wood for its 10th anniversary show in 2012, has successfully transitioned from being run by public sector agencies, to being run by a not for profit Community Interest Company.

However with public funding hard to come by, and ever increasing costs of running the event, the Community Interest Company Directors are asking the hundreds of local businesses who directly benefit from the event to help provide the financial backing needed to ensure The Enchanted Forest’s ongoing economic input to the area.

Eddie Thomson, chair of the Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company commented
“This has been a tremendous year for the event, winning four major awards and attracting over 26,000 visitors to the area and we’re really very keen for that success to continue into 2012. Over half of The Enchanted Forest customers stay overnight in the area and with increased numbers attending, the overall economic impact of the event is now estimated to be in the region of £1.5million benefit to the local economy.”

“In our most recent feedback survey we asked our customers to tell us which businesses they spent money with while in the area and well over 250 businesses were mentioned by name, ranging from restaurants to take aways, from hotels to retail shops. If each of those businesses were to pledge just £160 then we would have the necessary capital we need to continue to run the event. It’s not much to ask when you consider the sheer extent of the economic impact of the event is almost 10,000 times that much per business – that’s an exceptional return on investment.”

Businesses are being invited to attend an open meeting at Fishers Hotel, Pitlochry at 7pm on Tuesday 20th December, 2011 where there will be an open and public discussion around the future of The Enchanted Forest and how they can play an active role in ensuring its success continues.

To register attendance at this meeting, contact Eddie Thomson, Chairman of the Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company by email on info@enchantedforest.org.uk

The Enchanted Forest was founded in 2003 and this year has acquired a string of accolades including the Event Management Grand Prix at the Scottish Event Awards, Best Cultural Event, Event of the Year at the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business Star Awards and the Community Award at the Perthshire Big Tree Country Awards.

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Enchanted Forest is Community Champion

The Enchanted Forest, a Perthshire Big Tree Country event, has smashed all previous box office records, welcoming over 26,350 visitors during its 23 night run, picking up the Big Tree Country Community Award in the process.

The event, which was founded in 2002 with the primary objective of extending the traditional tourism period, came to a close on Saturday after attracting a record breaking 26,350 visitors, up 31% from 20,000 visitors in 2010.

Attending the Big Tree Country Awards on Sunday afternoon, the Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company, who is behind the management of the event, was delighted to hear it had also become the lucky recipient of the Big Tree Country Community Award for its work in spreading the impact of the event amongst local businesses and community projects.

Eddie Thomson, chair of the Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company commented
“Winning the Big Tree Country Community Award is the icing on the cake for us, after such an amazing year. We’re truly delighted that our efforts as a community interest company have been recognised by Perthshire Big Tree Country.”

“Such an unprecedented increase in ticket sales is also very good news for the local businesses in the area. 50% of Enchanted Forest customers stay overnight in the area, and a 31% increase in attendance translates into a very strong increase in the overall economic impact of the event, which is now estimated to be in the region of £1.5million benefit to the local economy” he continued.

The Enchanted Forest has also been shortlisted for Event of the Year at this year’s Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business Star Awards.

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Enchanted Forest Breaks Box Office Records

Ticket sales for The Enchanted Forest, a Perthshire Big Tree Country event, have broken all previous box office records, welcoming over 24,000 visitors during its 23 night run.

The news comes as the event enters its final week and celebrates the announcements that is has been shortlisted for two further awards.

The Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company which has successfully run the show since 2010, has been shortlisted for the Community Award in this year’s Perthshire Big Tree Country Awards, the results of which are due to be announced this Sunday.

The Enchanted Forest has also been shortlisted for Event of the Year at this year’s Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business Star Awards, however the team will need to wait until Friday 25th November to learn their fate.

Eddie Thomson, chairman of the Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company commented “This year has seen unprecedented demand for the event and the box office has been working around the clock to ensure everyone gets their tickets. This is fantastic news for the local area – with a 25% increase in visitors coming to the show this year, over half of which stay in the area overnight, it represents an enormous boost to the income of businesses in the area, from shops to restaurants to hotels.”

The latest figures put the event well ahead of the record breaking 20,000 tickets sold in 2010. The year’s theme, Transitions, was designed by Simon Wilkinson and RJ McConnell, the design team behind the multi-award winning 2010 show. This year’s show has proven to be exceptionally popular with visitors, with many claiming it is the best show yet.

Tricia Fox, marketing manager for The Enchanted Forest said “We are extremely pleased with the performance of this year’s show – there’s a lot of hard work and planning goes into a show of this scale and it’s rewarding that demand is increasing year on year. There are some tickets left for this week however folks had better be quick if they are still thinking about coming to the event this year.”

For further information about the Enchanted Forest and to purchase tickets, visit the Enchanted Forest website at www.enchantedforest.org.uk. The show closes to the public on Saturday 29th October.

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Ticket Sales Surge for Forest Show

Ticket sales for Perthshire Big Tree Country event, The Enchanted Forest, have soared in recent days, and are now selling at a faster pace than ever before.

Eddie Thomson, chairman of the Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company which runs the event, commented “The box office has been inundated with phone calls and online ticket sales in recent days, with sales spiking at around 1500 ticket sales per day. This is an unprecedented speed of sales and almost three times the daily volume of tickets we would normally sell at this stage in the show’s run.”

The surge in ticket sales puts the event firmly on the road to selling well in excess of the record breaking 20,000 tickets sold in 2010.

Tricia Fox, marketing manager for The Enchanted Forest said “In total we have an available capacity of just over 25,000 tickets for this year’s event however asking for a 20% increase in ticket sales is a big challenge for the event. However we’ve aimed high and it now looks certain we will comfortably surpass last year’s ticket sales by Monday and, with two weeks still to go, this year’s ticket sales are now destined to break all previous records.”

The year’s theme, Transitions, was designed by Simon Wilkinson and RJ McConnell and has proven to be exceptionally popular with visitors, with many claiming it is the best show yet.

With almost 90% of visitors to the show citing The Enchanted Forest as their main reason for visiting Pitlochry, it is no surprise that the event brings over £1 million of additional spend to the local economy. Over 50% of visitors opt to stay overnight in the area, as well as eat in local restaurants and buy goods in local shops and it is this boost to the local Perthshire economy, at a traditionally quieter time of year, that the Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company has as its main objective.

Eddie Thomson commented, “The primary objective of the Community Interest Company is, quite simply, to ensure that Pitlochry retains this amazing event which brings so much to the area and is a genuine boost to businesses, creating jobs and stability in Highland Perthshire. The fact that demand for tickets is higher than ever is great news for both the event and the businesses in the surrounding area.”

For further information about the Enchanted Forest and to purchase tickets, visit the Enchanted Forest website at www.enchantedforest.org.uk. The show runs from 7th – 29th October at The Explorer’s Garden in Pitlochry.

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Enchanted Forest Dazzles At New Venue

The Enchanted Forest, a Perthshire Big Tree Country event and Scotland’s premier sound and light show, launched last night in an array of dazzling colours to a select audience of press and VIPs at The Explorers Garden in Pitlochry.

The Enchanted Forest, now in its ninth successful year, has been managed by the social enterprise the Highland Perthshire Area Community Interest Company, and is on target to attract up to 25,000 visitors, building on its multi-award winning success at the recent Scottish Event Awards.

The 2011 theme “Transitions” has been designed by Scottish designers Simon Wilkinson (lighting) and Ronnie McConnell (sound) who have created a dazzling and engaging show against the event’s new backdrop at The Explorer’s Garden. The original music score and an artistic lighting design delivers a traditional son et lumiere show that entranced audience members at the launch last night.

Local MP and musician, Pete Wishart, attended the opening ceremony and remarked “This is an absolutely stunning show, with an engaging original music score. It is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s finest events. Not only does it provide an essential boost for the local economy, it opens up nature and woodlands to literally thousands of people in a brand new light, getting them into the outdoors and cheering up our October evenings. Well worth a visit.”

Derek Allan, chair of The Enchanted Forest 2011, commented “The Highland Perthshire Community Interest Company have worked tirelessly this year to build on the success of last year’s award winning production. We’ve continued to work with two of Scotland’s most exciting designers to deliver an experience that our visitors will find breath-taking and unique.”

“The change of venue will be welcomed by visitors both new and returning and have given us enormous challenges as well as exciting opportunities to incorporate architecture and visitors into the show design, giving it a multi-dimensional feel – you will feel like you have been surrounded by sound and light” he said.

This year is also the International Year of the Forests, a series of celebrations around the globe. James McDougall from Forestry Commission Scotland is leading those celebrations in Scotland and knows more than most about the Enchanted Forest being the originator of it, back in 2002 and having run it for the first 6 years. James commented, “The Enchanted Forest is a tremendous example of how woodlands can help generate income for local businesses and it is really great to see that the show is now in its ninth successful year. The International Year of the Forests is about celebrating forests and The Enchanted Forest is a fantastic showcase for Scotland’s natural beauty, attracting visitors from all over Scotland and the world.”

Visitors to the area can also enjoy the Highland Perthshire Autumn Festival events taking place in Pitlochry and surrounding area making it a truly family event.

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