What’s On this August

Summer festivities continue apace in the South of Scotland with events from country fairs to outdoor concerts and sporting events to name a few. Follow in the footsteps of a Duke, practice your fire-lighting skills in the wild and groove the night away to the tunes of David Bowie and ABBA! Here is our pick of what not to miss, but we can’t possibly fit it all in so please do check out our full list of events this August!

Big events not to miss

Floors Castle once again puts on a musical extravaganza with three tribute bands to huge names in music, all in one day. This year’s Roxburghe Rocks! will feature the music of David Bowie, ABBA, Motown and a range of crowd pleasers from Kings of Leon, The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs, Oasis and more throughout the day.

The following weekend, Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate play host to the Galloway Country Fair. Here, thrilling main ring entertainment, local crafts and foods, dog events, field sports and family activities are on offer. The show collaborates with Defender Jam – a Land Rover lovers festival – giving even more reasons to attend. The main ring will feature TV personality Chloe Fuller with her Super Spaniels. Chloe, known from Crufts and This Morning, and for demystifying disabilities, will showcase her assistance spaniels. Ollie’s Equestrian will showcase trick riding and dressage while the Drakes of Hazard is a fun-filled show with skilled dogs and Indian Runner Ducks!

For an altogether different experience, the Beyond Borders International Festival encompasses panel discussions and debates alongside a programme of music, visual and performing arts, film, spoken word, and well-being activities such as meditation, yoga and walks. Traquair House plays host to this cultural, eclectic weekend event.

Unique events not to miss

Glenlair festival is a celebration of food, drink and music and a 20th birthday party for Demijohn, the award-winning liquid refill shop, at its new home on Glenair Steading. Expect a glorious summer day on the farm, suitable for the whole family with live music, delicious food and drinks, including the legendary Demijohn Cocktail Bar!

The Kirkcudbright Floodlit Tattoo is a spectacle not to miss, bringing to a close a summer of festivities in and around the town. Assembled local pipe bands and country dancers are sure to stir your emotions and give you a night to remember – especially as the cascade of fireworks lights up the Kirkcudbright skyline at the show’s culmination.

Learn all about our native birds of prey during free workshops by KG Hawks Birds of Prey Rescue and Education Services at Castle Kennedy Gardens. The Birds of Prey event will give you the chance to see Tawny Long-Eared Owl, stunning Western Screech Owl, the adorable Snowy Owl with photography oppurtunities for a small fee.

Experiences galore

New experiences often make for treasured memories of a holiday. Join Christy Miles, a qualified outdoor and environmental educationalist and proprietor of Way of the Wild at Castle Kennedy Gardens as she demonstrates various methods to light a fire in the wild – followed by making and cooking pizzas over your open flames!

Indulge your palate with an afternoon of cheese and wine in the grandeur of the Globe Inn’s Grand Dining Room. With cheese chosen especially for you by head chef Fraser Cameron and wines paired by the restaurant’s wine expert, you can expect a delightful afternoon in the setting where Robert Burns himself once imbibed and dined.

Walk in the footsteps of the 5th Duke of Buccleuch and discover the magic hidden within Bowhill House’s Victorian designed landscape, with a guided walk on Wednesdays throughout the summer season. This 75 minute walk explores the connection between a working Victorian estate and the romantically picturesque landscape.

Learn about the life of Robert Burns’ and the time he spent living and working in and around Dumfries. Free walking tours three times a week allow you to explore the landscape Scotland’s National Bard called home.

Wheelie good times

Whether you want to take part or just watch, the South of Scotland plays host to some superb cycling race events this August. The Scottish National Road Race Championships heads to Newton Stewart for the Senior Open and Senior & Junior Female races. This will see the fastest road racers from all over Scotland descend on the town to battle it out for podium positions.

And if you want to take part in a race yourself, how about the ReCycle Sportive, an annual charity race starting and finishing in Kirkcudbright? Three amazing routes (30 miles, 67 miles and 80 miles) cater for different levels of fitness and stamina and take riders through a variety of quiet, beautiful scenery along the coast, beside lochs, through woodland and up and down some fantastic hills.

This year the Glentress Weekender comprises of two events. The Glentress 7 is back as one of Scotland’s most popular summer mountain biking endurance events with new trails and a transition area at the start/finish line of last summer’s UCI Cycling World Championships. Or perhaps you could try the inaugural Hope Enjoyro EVO, an intermediate endurance ride suitable for riders who want to race an enduro, but don’t wish to take on those full technical and physical demands.

Over in Gatehouse of Fleet at the end of the month Raiders Gravel is back! This three-stage, four-day gravel cycling event is suitable for almost any cyclist. With two start waves, Raiders Gravel is a race at the front, and suitable for more recreational cyclists further back. This year the event will also be hosting the 2024 British Gravel Championships too!

Common Riding/Riding of the Marches

If you have not seen the spectacle of the Common Ridings or Riding of the Marches do not miss these amazing equestrian events. The festivals in Lauder, Coldstream, Dalbeattie and Sanquhar round off the Common Riding Season and continue the proud tradition of ensuring the boundaries of the town are secure and protected. Lauder has its roots in the 1600s and is one of the original festivals. Coldstream is a particularly popular festival with up to 300 riders from surrounding Border towns participating in the ride commemorating the battle of Flodden in 1513. While Dalbeattie’s rides attached to its Civic Week are relatively modern, in Sanquhar the Riding of the Marches dates back to 1730. The modern day ride culminates with the crowning of the Sanquhar Queen and a parade of decorated vehicles, pipe bands, silver bands and marching bands amassing along the narrow High Street.