Aberdeen Inspired has welcomed the return of the Big Belmont Bash as an ideal celebration to mark the end of a brilliant summer for the Granite City.
The free event, staged by The Collective On The Cobbles, returns this Saturday, September 6, with not only a feast of music, fun, food and games, but also the chance to take a sneak look behind the doors of the Belmont Cinema as part of Doors Open Day.
This is the second Big Belmont Bash of the year, with hugely-successful first outing held on May 31, when it was billed as the start of a “summer of love your city”.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, which is supporting the event, said the vibrant, fun-filled day will be the ideal way to mark the transition from long, warm days into the cosy season of autumn.
He said: “The Big Belmont Bash in May was about a summer of love your city – but I think it’s safe to say we have just had a summer that everyone in the city loved.
“The May event was held while the city was still basking in the euphoria of the Dons winning the Scottish Cup for the first time in 35 years. Then we had the unforgettable spectacle of The Tall Ships Races returning to Aberdeen for the first time in 28 years, bringing a carnival atmosphere which was loved by hundreds of thousands of people.
“Both these events brought a real sense of pride in Aberdeen and a collective feeling things were looking up for our city. I see that same sense of pride and vision at play in the Big Belmont Bash.
“The businesses around the Belmont Quarter – Belmont Street, Back Wynd, Gaelic Lane and Little Belmont Street – have rolled up their sleeves and worked tirelessly to put on an event that celebrates the best of the city centre.
“It is that sort of vision and enthusiasm that shows the heart of the Granite City is beating as strongly and as passionately as ever it was.”
The autumn outing of the Big Belmont Bash will run from noon to 6pm. It will see the return of fun and games that proved so popular in May, such as the giant bean bag toss, as well fun tombolas, higher or lower and spin the wheel with prizes and vouchers for local businesses to be won.
There will be a rich strand of DJs and live performances on the Belmont Street Stage, plus gigs in other venues in the quarter, including Drummonds Daytime Sessions. Artists taking part include Stewart Delo, Kaleidoscope, Moody Moody and DJ Yogi.
Of particular interest to many will be the chance to see inside Belmont Cinema as part of the city-wide Doors Open Day. It will include tours of the projector room, plus talks including shared memories of the cinema, plus what the future holds, with CEO Matt Buchanan.
Also in the mix for the Big Belmont Bash will be heritage walking tours with Hidden Aberdeen plus performances by the Robert Gordon’s College Pipe Band.
Adrian said: “I have first-hand experience of the Big Belmont Bash in May and I can assure you that it really is a special day, with a special atmosphere that everyone can enjoy, no matter if they are young or old.
“So, please, come along on Saturday, bring your family and friends, and celebrate the special summer we have just had and celebrate the many more special things we all enjoy and love about Aberdeen.”
You can find out more about the Big Belmont Bash here.