Shop owners in Dundee city centre have called for more events like the weekend’s Summer Streets Festival to help their businesses flourish.
The second annual festival brought an influx of people to the city centre, many queuing for more than two hours to get a glimpse of the main attraction — the luminarium.
About 3,600 people took part in the sensory experience.
Elsewhere there was live music, dancers, children’s activities, science experiments and the Dundee farmers’ market to entertain the crowds.
Shop owners on Reform Street noticed an increased footfall as a result of the festivities.
Lisa Shek, 34, who owns the newly-opened Little Things Cafe, said: “Saturday was a very good day for us.
“They should definitely do things like this more often.
“People don’t tend to come to this area unless there is something on so the festival gave them something to come to.”
Melanie Ward, 32, owner of Blend, said: “We definitely noticed more people around at the weekend.
“This is our first summer on Reform Street so we were wondering what it would be like during the holiday period. The festival brought a lot of new people here which was great.”
William Smallwood, a shift supervisor at Asian street food restaurant Dai Pai, said: “It was very busy at the weekend.
“Our busy time is usually for about two hours but over the past few days it has been busy for three or four hours. The festival has been good for us.”
Alan Ross, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said the local authority will take the successes of the festival on board.
He said: “Over the two-day run, about 3,600 people took part in the luminarium experience, with a whole host of activities helping to attract families into the city centre.
“People who queued on both days were good-natured about their waiting times and recognised that the structure was hugely popular.
“We are delighted the second Summer Streets Festival has been such a success for the city and will look to learn lesson from this in terms of what people enjoyed and would like to see again next year.”
A spokeswoman for luminarium designers Architects of Air said: “We’ve had a great experience in Dundee.
“The people have been so friendly and we’re delighted so many people turned up to take part and have a great time.”
