STONE stackers from across the world will head to Dunbar this summer.
The coastal town will once again host the European Land Art Festival and, for the first time, the World Rock Stacking Championships in July.
Experts in the natural artistic skill will travel from Australia, Germany, France, Italy and beyond for the global competition, which is usually held in Llano Earth Art Festival in Texas.
This year’s events will run from July 9 to 14, with the competition itself taking place on the final two days of the event.
James Craig Page, who has been at the heart of the stone stacking events in Dunbar since 2016, was looking forward to the week-long festival.
He said: “It is a pretty good result for Dunbar to get a world championships.
“The great thing is we are going to crown a junior and a senior individual world champion. That has never been done before in the history of either event.”
In 2016, Mr Page organised the John Muir Stone Stacking Challenge in the town.
Since then, interest in the works of natural art has continued to grow.
Coverage has spread throughout the world, with people travelling to the town to take part in stone stacking competitions.
Mr Page stressed the economic benefits for the area as people stayed in the town and visited various businesses.
Despite the success of previous events, Mr Page admitted that he would have thought the possibility of the town hosting the world championships was “mad”.
He said: “Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would be hosting the world championships.
“Getting the European championships up and running, we had support from Dunbar Community Council and Dunbar Trades’ Association.
“We have struggled in getting funding and we have put in applications to Creative Scotland.
“We are hopeful this year they will come through for us but we are always looking for sponsors to take it forward.
“Bringing the world championships to Dunbar will make a difference and people will get interested in taking this forward.”
And it is not just stone stacking that will be grabbing artistic headlines.
In the lead-up to crowning the world champion, there will be a sand drawing workshop, and sandcastle and sculpture competitions.
Live music will also be provided by Dunbar’s own Callum Easter and fellow former The Stagger Rats member Daniel Paylor.
Mr Page added: “It is great to be bringing them back for the first time!”
Go to elafest.com to find out more about the events.
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