Jedburgh Callant's Festival

The sight of riders and their horses, embarking from the town and out towards the towns boundaries is one to behold. Over the course of the two week festival, there are many ride outs. Each rideout concludes in the town centre with the town band and the singing of historic festival and town anthem “Jethart’s Here”. Some rideouts pass through the river at Canongate Ford, a particular highlight, often drawing hundreds of spectators on festival day itself. 

Beyond the rideouts, the festival brings the community together in many other ways, most notably the Festival Day itself, which sees a final rideout take place followed by an always popular community picnic by the bandstand and the recently reinstated Fancy Dress parade, which travels around the whole town. 

With the town in high spirits – shops dress their windows, the square is draped in beautiful bunting – festival season is a wonderful time to visit Jedburgh.

When is the Riding of the Marches?

Jedburgh Callants Festival takes place annually, the Southdean Rideout is on the last Saturday in June each year and the other dates are fixed from that point.

In 2026 the first rideout to Morebattle is always the week before Southdean then all others follow from there

What to Expect: Ceremonial Day Schedule

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Unique Local Traditions 

The carpark near the Abbey is taken over by a funfair during the festival.

Please note the main A68 road through Jedburgh is closed for the Rediswire ride out. It is worth getting up to the main border crossing Carter Bar before the closure to watch the cavalcade gallop up the hill with the cry of ‘Jetharts Here’

As with a number of Common Ridings there are local songs sung at the festivals, you can join in by learning the words here (link)