As the geese prepare for winter and make their return to Dumfries and Galloway, so too does this year’s Wild Goose Festival. Since its founding in 2020, the Wild Goose Festival has become a cornerstone of the regional calendar, known for bringing people together through creativity, education and environmental stewardship.
Now in its sixth year, the festival will run from 17 to 26 October 2025, offering a vibrant and expansive programme for all ages. This year’s festival follows the exciting news that the Wild Goose Festival has been awarded the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Green Charter Designation, a proud milestone that celebrates the festival’s deep commitment to sustainability, biodiversity and the people who make the region special.
Rooted in the remarkable migratory journey of the barnacle geese from Svalbard to the Solway Estuary, the festival honours the deep ecological and cultural ties that define Dumfries and Galloway. Every autumn, Dumfries and Galloway welcomes tens of thousands of wild geese, including barnacle geese, greylag geese, brent geese, Canada geese, pink-footed geese and Greenland white-fronted geese. After their long migrations, some travel more than 5,000 km to reach the region.
Originally established as a celebration of this inspirational journey, the festival now focuses more widely on deepening connections between people and the region’s unique and diverse habitats. It honours both the wildlife that calls Dumfries and Galloway home and the species that visit each year, while encouraging visitors to reflect on their own connections to the natural world.
This year’s programme offers opportunities for people of all ages to explore the region’s wildlife and landscapes through a wide variety of activities. The festival also takes inspiration from the geese’s remarkable journey by embracing the values of community, creativity and wellbeing. As such, events not only provide opportunities for learning but also invite visitors to build meaningful relationships across generations and reconnect with one another, as well as with the environment around them.
This year’s festival begins with Behavin’ – a variety and open mic night at The Stove Café. The main festival follows shortly afterwards, with fringe events taking place throughout the month before a grand finale in the form of a Halloween Ceilidh in Dumfries.
Overall, this year’s festival features more than 70 events stretching as far as the goose can fly. From Stranraer to Dumfries to Annan, the programme spans the length of the Solway coast.
Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, creative workshops or family-friendly fun, this year’s programme offers something for everyone. A highlight once again is the Wild Goose Festival Hub, the centre of activity for the festival’s indoor events. This year, it will be based at the Carers Centre on Nith Street, a fitting venue that reflects the festival’s focus on community, creativity and wellbeing.
So get ready to visit the Hub to make badges, join a storytelling session, or explore the unique landscapes and wildlife of Dumfries and Galloway at one of the many outdoor events taking place across the region. Events will be either free or low-cost and, while a small number require booking, most can be enjoyed without advance registration.
Produced by The Stove Network, the Wild Goose Festival is part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 and is proudly supported by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), Dumfries & Galloway Council, Annandale & Nithsdale Community Benefit Company, and Creative Scotland.