Everything you need to know about The BookBench Trail Farewell Weekend.
Tickets are selling fast to get a final glance of the beautifully designed BookBench sculptures, which will be later auctioned off in aid of Clan Cancer Support in October.
The Farewell Weekend will offer members of the public access to an indoor display of all 41 large BookBench sculptures and all 38 mini BookBench sculptures which have been designed by local schools.
It’s the first time the sculptures will be on display in the same place, allowing people to see them all under the one roof at Aberdeen Music Hall before they are sold at auction.
Here is everything you need to know about The BookBench Trail Farewell Weekend.
What is The BookBench Trail?
Sponsored by Bilfinger and Hellmann Worldwide Logistics and delivered by charity Clan Cancer Support, The BookBench Trail featured 41 large BookBench sculptures displayed across a 500-mile route from Stonehaven, Aberdeen to Lerwick, Shetland during the summer.
Clan chose the 1.4metre wide BookBench sculpture, which depicts an open book, because of its lifeline listening support service which enables anyone impacted by a cancer diagnosis to open up and tell their story.
Artists across Scotland were invited to submit designs for consideration with each sculpture individually designed.
They were then placed ‘into the wild’ for the public to enjoy for a eight-week period over the summer.
Where is the Farewell Weekend?
Visitors can visit The BookBench Trail Farewell Weekend at the Music Hall this Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21 at Aberdeen’s Music Hall.
Ticket holders can take in the array of designs on display at the Music Hall from 10am-5pm.
Those using the dedicated trail app can also “collect” unseen sculptures.
Guests are encouraged to dress up as their favourite World Book Day character, with face painting and art activities on offer and the opportunity to buy trail merchandise and pre-loved books, with all proceeds going to support Clan’s vital services.
How much are tickets?
Tickets are priced at £8 with concessions and under 16s priced £5. Entry is free for children under five.
Clan is working with local charity We Too! to deliver two Relaxed Sessions from 4pm-5pm on Saturday, September 20 and 10am-11am on Sunday, September 21 to ensure the Farewell Weekend is inclusive and accessible for all. The We Too! Ninjas will be on hand throughout these sessions to offer practical support and guidance.
What happens to the BookBenches after the weekend?
All mini BookBench sculptures created by local pupils will be returned to schools following the Farewell Weekend.
The large sculptures and specially commissioned mini sculptures will be sold by Celebrity Auctioneer Natasha Raskin Sharp at auction at The Chester Hotel on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 with all proceeds going to Clan Cancer Support.
Members of the public are welcome to buy tickets to attend the event which will see 37 lots auctioned off on the night.
Interested buyers can now view all auction lots and make an expression of interest or place a bid by checking out the online auction catalogue.
Sales of the items - which include 32 large and five small individually designed BookBench sculptures - will help raise vital funds for the charity, with bids starting at £3,000 per design.
Clan’s previous trail projects Light the North (2021) and The Big Hop Trail (2023) have raised a combined total of more than £520,000 for Clan services.
For more information and to buy tickets for both the Farewell Weekend, please visit: https://www.clancancersupport.org/the-book-bench-trail/farewell-weekend/
