Festivals and Events in and around Newton Stewart
Annual Festivals are growing in popularity in the Dumfries & Galloway region, with themes based on outdoor activities and nature as well as food, books, music, arts and crafts. Here are a few of this year's events:
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY WILDLIFE FESTIVAL: 21st March - 13th April 2008
The Festival, now in it's 5th year, continues to grow, with lots of new activities added. As always, the emphasis is on finding some of the region’s special wildlife. So if you have never seen a Red Squirrel, Red Kite, Peregrine Falcon, Red Deer or Badger – now is your chance.
Why not dispense with the car and join a “Wings on Wheels” tour of top bird watching sites in the area, to spot wading birds and wildfowl. Book early to avoid disappointment!
See Red Deer up close at the Galloway Red Deer range. Also in 2008, we are repeating the popular open day at the Wildlife Hospital, visits to explore the seashore and a whole range of family activities for Easter. Experienced wildlife watchers and beginners should both find something of interest in the festival.
Website: www.wildlifefestival.org.uk
NEWTON STEWART WALKING FESTIVAL: 9th - 15th May 2008
Annual walking festival held in May. There are routes to suit everyone. Make a date in your diary and join our action packed walking week in the Galloway Hills and surrounding area. You will soon realise why we call this area Scotland's best kept secret!
Web Site:www.newtonstewartwalkfest.co.uk
Postal Address:
Newton Stewart Walking Festival,
c/o Wigtown Rural Development Company,
6-8 Queen Street,
Newton Stewart,
DG8 6BT
Telephone: 01671 404500
SPRING FLING OPEN STUDIOS: 24th -26th May 2008
Annual 3-day event in which artists and craftspeople across the Dumfries & Galloway Region open their studios to the public. A chance to see, and buy, some of the best creative work in Scotland, in some of the most beautiful settings.
Website: www.artandcraftsouthwestscotland.com/springfling/index.asp
10 AT KIRROUGHTREE - 12th July 2008
After last year's highly-acclaimed event, bikers of every skill level are again being challenged to take part in the most arduous mountain bike endurance event to be held in southern Scotland:
'10 at Kirroughtree' challenges entrants to ride as many circuits of a 10 - mile loop as they can in 10 hours. Competitors can ride solo, or as part of a two, three or four person team.
The event commences with registration on the Friday night and a pasta party, ready for the 9am start on Saturday in Victoria Street, followed by music and dancing in the evening after the event.
See the organiser's website for more details.
OTHER EVENTS
Newton Stewart hosts the annual Galloway Pageant in July, with a programme of sporting events culminating in a parade of highly decorated floats and the crowning of the "Queen of Galloway".
Throughout the summer, other communities in the area organise similar events of a purely local or more widely advertised variety such as the famous Creetown Country Weekend, a festival of country & western music in September.
The annual Wigtown Book Town Festival is held in September. Scotland's National Book Town provides a programme of book related festivals and events throughout the year, sometimes linked to parallel themes such as a food and crafts.
The Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally in December open to car club members from Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England.
The Newton Stewart Horticultural Society organises a show early in September for its members.
Wigtown Agricultural Show is held on the first Wednesday in August - and has been for some two hundred years. This is the oldest Agricultural Show in Scotland.