A jam-packed programme of events is set to welcome thousands of visitors next year to mark a decade since the international launch of the iconic Kelpies, the world’s largest equine sculptures.

Kelpies 10, a special one-off event, will be held on Sat 27 April 2024 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the multi-award winning visitor attraction at the Helix Park in Falkirk.

Celebrations will kick off at 10.30am with a host of free events but as the sun sets over the Helix, the evening will see The Kelpies and surrounding areas transform into a stunning performance space featuring live music from headliners Callum Beattie and Red Hot Chilli Pipers alongside a thrilling yet-to-be announced line up of performers for the very first live ticketed concert event to happen on the unique site.

Falkirk Council Leader Cecil Meiklejohn said: “There is no doubt the Kelpies have been a game-changer for our area in terms of both the significantly increased volume of visitors to the area and the income generated in the local economy.

“We hope to welcome even more visitors next year as we celebrate ten years of the majestic Kelpies with an awe-inspiring programme of events for all ages to enjoy. Kelpies 10 marks an important milestone for these iconic landmarks and is testament to the undeniable appeal and enduring legacy of these remarkable structures.”

Kelpies 10 is the first event of its kind to be held at the Helix Park and promises to be a spectacular day and night for all ages ensuring this special anniversary is one to remember.

Throughout the day visitors can expect street theatre, storytellers and artists who will create a vibrant and colourful scene to experience alongside the spectacular sculptures, culminating in a big family ceilidh, pipe band demonstrations, not to mention a specially invited guestlist of Clydesdale horses to mark the breed’s significant contribution to Scotland’s industrial heritage and inspiration for Andy Scott’s masterpiece. The daytime events will be free to attend and suitable for the whole family while the evening concert will be ticketed.

The Helix, Home of the Kelpies won the ‘Great Day Out’ award at this year’s Scottish Thistle National Awards, organised by Visit Scotland. This national award follow’s on from the Helix’s Scottish Thistle Regional Award win for Best Visitor Attraction Experience in November 2022.

In 2022/23 860,000 visitors were welcomed to the Helix Park generating in the region of £1.5million from the park itself. The Helix is a Green Flag Park and has been awarded the Green Tourism Business Gold Award with nearly 94% of visitors to The Helix and The Kelpies rate their visit at either four or five stars on Trip Advisor.

Tickets are available for the evening event which gets underway at 7pm featuring live music from headline acts Callum Beattie and Red Hot Chilli Pipers and special guests.

Callum Beattie is a Scottish singer-songwriter signed to 3 Beat Records. He has released six singles, two EPs and his debut album People Like Us was released in May 2020. Paved with empathy, a working class voice speaking with a profound honesty, Beattie’s work showcases a rare universality. Recorded and written in Glasgow, featuring Scottish talent, new album ‘Vandals’ goes right back to his roots and has enjoyed promising success for this fast rising star. Callum has already sold over 70,000 tickets in 2023, including 3 nights at Glasgow’s iconic Barrowland. Both his debut album and his current album VANDALS went straight to number one in Scotland with over 100,000 UK radio plays in the past 12 months. Callum’s third album is set to be released in summer 2024.

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers are the world’s most famous bagpipe band. The band’s achievements have reached incredible heights with their groundbreaking fusion of traditional Scottish music and rock/pop anthems which they proudly call ‘Bagrock’. Over the years their achievements have included: a ‘big hearted Scotland’ nomination for their work for charity worldwide, gold disk for over 100,000 UK sales of their first album – ‘Bagrock to the Masses’, awarded twice for ‘best live act in Scotland’, triple platinum album status for the third album and DVD – ‘blast live’ and over 3.5 million views on YouTube of their viral cover of the Avicci track ‘wake me up’.