Festivals and Events in and around Newton Stewart in 2009
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 just few of this year's events:
NEWTON STEWART WALKING FESTIVAL: 8th - 14th May 2009
Annual walking festival held in May. There are routes to suit everyone - 26 walks over 7 days. 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!
Telephone: 01671 404500
Web Site:www.newtonstewartwalkfest.co.uk
SPRING FLING OPEN STUDIOS: 23rd - 25th May 2009
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, from painters, sculptors, furniture makers, jewellery makers, photographers, basket weavers, ceramicists, glass and textile artists.
Website: www.artandcraftsouthwestscotland.com/springfling/index.asp
GALLOWAY PAGEANT - 19th - 25th July 2009
Newton Stewart hosts the annual Galloway Pageant Week 19th to 25th July, with a programme of sporting events culminating in a parade of highly decorated floats and the crowning of the "Queen of Galloway".
CYCLING - Discovery Rides throughout Dumfries & Galloway 2009
Come join us on our rides of discovery around Dumfries & Galloway. These circular rides are suitable for all ages and abilities and will take approximately 3 to 4 hours at an easy pace. Most rides are FREE and there is no need to book for most rides: just turn up at the meeting point with a bike, suitable clothing, a snack, a drink and your camera.
Telephone: John Taylor on 01556 670395
Web Site: www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/cycling/guided-cycle-rides
OTHER EVENTS
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.
The Newton Stewart Horticultural Society organises a show early in September for its members, where you can see the best local garden produce and flowers.
More widely advertised events - such as the famous Creetown Country Music Festival, and the annual Wigtown Book Town Festival, both held in September - attract loyal followers from near and far, who return year after year. Scotland's National Book Town provides a programme of book-related events throughout the year, sometimes linked to parallel themes such as a food and crafts.
The Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally in December is open to car club members from Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England.