Dundee’s Penguin Parade is officially underway, with 80 statues hitting the streets of the city and surrounding areas from today (Friday 29^th June).

One of the penguins is supported by the ABC bus ticket, which is a partnership involving Dundee City Council, Stagecoach, Moffat & Williamson and Xplore Dundee.  ‘Ticket to Ride’ can be found at Slessor Gardens, at Dundee’s Waterfront and has been designed and painted by local artist Pam Kelly. 

The ABC partnership has also produced a specially-commissioned Penguin Parade map to help customers find each statue by bus, making it easier and quicker to visit them all!

The Penguin Parade, in aid of Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre, launched this morning, with sponsors and artists gathering to celebrate and to take a brief bus tour of the city centre to view some of the amazing artworks.  Each unique statue has been sponsored by local organisations, individuals and businesses.

ABC’s ‘Ticket to Ride’ artist Pam, who is also a Customer Services Adviser for Xplore Dundee, recently completed an HND in Contemporary Art Practice at Dundee and Angus College.  She also created ‘Yarn bombed Wullie’ for the highly successful 2016 Oor Wullie Bucket Trail. 

Pam said: “I’m really pleased to see our penguin finally in place in the city centre – it’s lovely to have been chosen to participate in such a special and worthwhile event. 

“The ABC partnership wanted their penguin to reflect the city and illustrate all the various attractions and locations which can be visited by using the ABC ticket and I think our design has achieved that.”

Customers will be able access the majority of the Penguin Parade statues by bus using the ABC multi-operator smart ticket, which allows adults and children to travel on any of the three local bus operators’ services using just one ticket.   It’s available on smartcard from any of the three companies (Xplore Dundee, Stagecoach and Moffat & Williamson) and offers unlimited travel every day, covering the whole of Dundee and its outskirts ranging from Tealing in Angus to North Fife.   An ABC Day ticket costs £4.20 for adults and the weekly ticket is £14.50.  What’s more, the Holiday Hop is back for the duration of the summer holidays allowing kids to travel for just 20p per child, per single journey.  More details of the ABC smart tickets can be found at the new website www.abcbustickets.com.

The special ABC/Penguin Parade maps are available from each bus operator’s website and Travel Shops, and can also be found at libraries, community centres and the VisitScotland Tourist Information office.