Latest news with #DumfriesandGallowayArtsFestival
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
What's on in Dumfries and Galloway this spring bank holiday weekend
The dry weather may be ending, but that won't dampen the spirits with lots going on. It's the bank holiday weekend, which means it's set to be a packed couple of days across Dumfries and Galloway. The dry weather may be ending, but that won't dampen the spirits with lots going on. Friday night will see the first of the Guid Nychburris rideouts in Dumfries as preparations ramp up for the big day on June 22. Tonight's Woodlands ride-out will leave Huntingdon Market at 6.30pm and riders are asked to be there 15 minutes in advance. The procession will go along Huntingdon Road, St Mary's Street, Shakespeare Street, Nith Place, Dockhead, St Michael's Bridge, Troqueer Road, Moat Road, Stark Crescent, Holm Avenue, Rosefield Road, Ryedale Road, Solway Drive, Pleasance Avenue, Church Street, Howgate Street, Terregles Road, Hardthorn Road and Woodlands. After a stop at Mr Clark's field, it continues along Irongray Road, Newton Road, Glasgow Road, Jocks Loaning, College Road, Priory Road, Priory Avenue, Glasgow Road, Glasgow Street, Buccleuch Street, Lovers' Walk, St Mary's Street, Huntingdon Road and back to Huntingdon Market. Excitement is also building for Lockerbie Gala and Riding of the Marches with a free fun day behind Lockerbie Ice Rink on Saturday from 12noon. It will include inflatables, a climbing wall and tractor rides. The first ride-out will be on Sunday, leaving the market at 2pm. It will go along Sydney Place, Bridge Street, High Street, Mains Street, Carlisle Road, Service Road, the underpass, Gibson's Bridge, Haregills and then Burnswalk for a hospitality stop. The return is via Tundergarth Mains, Five Ways, Murrayfield Woods, Bridge Street and back to the market. This weekend also sees the popular Spring Fling celebration, with more than 80 studios opening their doors to the public. To make things easier, there are six routes visitors can use to guide them around the region. Full details are available on the Spring Fling website. Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival continues this weekend. Sonic Lab will be performing an evening of cosmic soundscapes at the Dark Place Planetarium in Kirkcudbright from 7pm tonight. Circus cabaret act Cirqulation are coming to the region. They'll be in Lochside Park in Castle Douglas from 1.30pm on Saturday and at Crawick Multiverse near Sanquhar from 1pm on Sunday. Already under way is Knockengorroch – Dumfries and Galloway's longest running music festival. Acts set to appear in the hills above Carsphairn include Rokia Koné from Mali, African Head Charge and Formidable Vegetable from Australia. Also appearing will be Mungo's Hi-Fi, Omega Nebula, Kinnaris Quintet, General Levy, The Fontanas, Moxie, Euphonique and Serial Killaz. Dumfries Male Voice Choir will be holding their 72nd annual concert in Dumfries Baptist Church at 7.30pm tonight. Tickets, costing £10, can be bought on the door. Absolute Classics are organising a celebration of classical music with the Dabton House Festival. Starting today and running until Sunday, it features a number of outstanding performers including Scottish violinist Iona McDonald, cellist Hugo Eadle and classical singer Lewis Menzies. Tickets are available from the Absolute Classics website. Sanquhar Arts Festival will celebrate the River Nith with a series of free events. There will be several films by and with artists, poets with writing and displays on local walks and wildflowers. In particular, the festival celebrates Scots, with metaphor and allegory sustained and inspired by local poets since the 18th Century. The Kirkpatrick Macmillan Rally will offer a variety of cycling routes and activities in Upper Nithsdale to celebrate the inventor of the first pedal cycle. Rides will be led by qualified leaders, with something on offer for everyone. For more information, see the KPT Development Trust website. The popular Kirkcudbright Half Marathon and Buckland Burn-up take place on Saturday. Runners and walkers will tackle a picturesque in and around the Artists' Town. The walkers will leave Hope Dunbar Park at 10am with the main race an hour later. Children's rides and food stalls can be enjoyed by those who just want to watch. Sunday will see Corsock House garden open its doors for charity under Scotland's Gardens Scheme. This is an Arcadian garden with pools and temples and has been described by Ken Cox of Glendoick as 'perhaps my favourite of Scotland's many woodland gardens'. The gardens are open from 2pm to 5pm. Admission is £5, children free. Moffat's annual duck race will take place in Station Park on Sunday. There will be fun from 12noon to 4pm, with the race itself at 3pm. Sunday also sees Dumfries and Galloway Vintage Machinery Club hold their 46th annual rally at Park Farm in Dumfries from 10am. And if you fancy some exercise while supporting a good cause, Lockerbie and District Rotary are holding Walk the Walk round Castle Loch in Lochmaben from 10am to 1pm on Sunday. Elsewhere the same day, Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre is holding its annual fun day dog show from 12noon to 3pm. There will be plenty of stalls, activities and a rally.
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
What's on in Dumfries and Galloway this weekend as warm weather continues
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival is under way with one of the region's biggest sporting events also taking place. The warm, dry weather is set to continue in Dumfries and Galloway this weekend – meaning it's the perfect chance to get out and explore. Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival is taking place over the next few weeks. Tonight will see Cairn Chorus perform at Moffat's Upper Annandale Church at 7.30pm. Further concerts are planned in Moniaive's Glencairn Institute at 7.30pm on Saturday night and the Cresset Hall at Loch Arthur in Beeswing at 3pm on Sunday. The opening weekend of the festival also includes Tom McGuire and the Brassholes at The Venue in Dumfries on Saturday night. And during the day, Sarah Rose Graber and Ruxy Cantir are bringing their Unicorn Dance Party to Thornhill Old School from noon – perfect for youngsters aged four and above. This weekend also sees one of the biggest events on the Dumfries and Galloway sporting calendar – The Gralloch. Nearly 3,000 cyclists are set to take part in the Gatehouse-based event, testing themselves in the Galloway Forest Park. The event is part of the UCI Gravel World Series and the main race starts from the town at 9.15am on Saturday ahead of a full day of entertainment. Before that, the event village is open from 9am today. And on Sunday there is a special sportive, which begins at 8.30am. Annan cartoonist and writer Jack O'Hara is giving a free artist's talk at Kirkcudbright Tolbooth at 10am on Saturday. He'll then host a drop-in children's workshop at Kirkcudbright Galleries from 1pm. While there, visitors can enjoy an exhibition of his work, which is free and runs until June 1. If you like monsters, myths and mermaids then Dumfries Museum is the place to be. They are holding a number of free storytelling events thanks to the team from Mostly Ghostly. They start on the half hour from 10.30am. Heathhall Family Fun Day takes place in the community centre from 12noon on Saturday, featuring entertainment, music and fun activities. Teviotdale Steel Bonnets will be appearing at Canonbie's Gilnockie Tower from 10.30am, giving people a chance to explore the medical practices used during the Border Reiver era. Arbigland Gardens near Kirkbean are opening their doors to the public on Sunday – the perfect chance to enjoy the sunshine. There have been many improvements since last year in the impressive grounds, which surround an Adam style 18th century mansion and extend down to the shore on the Solway Firth. The gardens are open from 2pm until 5pm and admission is £5, children free. Proceeds will go Scotland's Garden's Scheme charities and Absolute Classics and the Arts Society Dumfries and Galloway. Moffat Theatre Choir are organising a concert party singalong from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday as the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of VE Day continue. It will take place in Moffat Theatre with tickets available on the door. And Sunday also sees the popular Dumfriesshire SWI Show and Craft Fayre. It's taking place from 10.30am at Easterbrook Hall in Dumfries.
