Step into Spring: Guided Walk
2025-03-30 09:30 - 12:30 UTC | WWT Caerlaverock, WWT Caerlaverock, Eastpark Farm, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, DG1 4RS, United Kingdom
Join WWT Caerlaverock and NatureScot staff for a 6 mile walk up Wardlaw Hill and through the Caerlaverock NNR to learn about our migrating geese and look for signs of spring.

Gander to the Hide at Mersehead
2025-04-03 11:00 - 2025-04-10 13:00 | RSPB Mersehead, RSPB Mersehead Nature Reserve, Southwick, Dumfries, DG2 8AH, United Kingdom
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As many water birds prepare for departure to breeding grounds far north, join our guide to see them up close and find out more about their different behaviours. We’ll focus on Svalbard Barnacle Geese but get chances to meet other geese as well as wintering ducks and waders, learning who stays and goes in springtime. Please come prepared for cold or wet weather and bring binoculars if you have some, we’ll provide a telescope.

This event is suitable for wheelchair access. Families welcome (though not suitable for younger children). All children must be accompanied by ticketed adults. Additional car park charge applies for non-RSPB members.

Please note, as the reserve location is prone to flooding, we ask that all individuals/groups attending provide a contact telephone number, so we can notify you in advance if the event is cancelled.

Accessibility Details: Firm, surfaced path along the route. Distance: < 1 mile/1.2km. Suitable for wheelchairs.

BOOK HERE

Garden Goose Making
2025-04-09 10:30 - 12:30 | St Michael’s and South Parish Church, 87 Saint Michael Street, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, DG1 2LA, United Kingdom
Join AccessArt and Turning Point Scotland for an unmissable opportunity to unleash your creativity with the Wild Goose Festival, at St Michael’s Church Hall. Inspired by the captivating Barnacle Geese, these hands-on workshops are perfect for all ages and abilities. Parents are kindly required to stay for the duration of the workshop. Join the fun with your children!

Imagine crafting your very own pair of goose wings or designing a charming garden goose to brighten your space. With talented artists ready to guide and inspire you every step of the way, this is your chance to explore your creative side in a supportive and engaging environment. Don’t miss out—be part of the fun and let your imagination take flight!

This event is being held in conjunction with Access Arts, Turning Point Scotland, and St Michael’s church for the 2025 Spring mini Wild Goose Festival.

Pen & Think Event
2025-04-14 10:30 - 12:30 | St Michael’s and South Parish Church, 87 Saint Michael Street, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, DG1 2LA, United Kingdom
Stories have been plucked from the wind and passed down to us from ancient days, with the aid of goose feathers. The quills of scribes fluttered over a thousand years ago to record tales that were much older.

Come and experience storyteller Simon Lidwell bringing a selection of these to life. The tales will be chosen to imagine how the place we know as Dumfries has formed. What stories would early Iron age tell when they forded the river? Why did Devorgilla build a bridge to get people to Whithorn? After each story there will be the opportunity to reflect and chat. There will also be the opportunity to find out more about writing using a “good goose quill pen” and making medieval ink – and perhaps you might like to have a go!

The event will be free to access, but donations gratefully received.

BOOK HERE

Wildlife Safari Walk at St Michaels Church
2025-04-19 11:00 - 12:00 | St Michael’s and South Parish Church, 87 Saint Michael Street, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, DG1 2LA, United Kingdom
Join us for a spooky but fun wildlife safari in the Graveyard at St Michael’s Church!

We’ll set off on an exciting quest to spot the creatures that call these hallowed grounds home—from scuttling spiders to soaring peregrines and everything in between! Can you help us uncover their secrets? We need sharp, young eyes and curious minds to discover the wildlife hiding among the headstones and to listen to the fascinating stories they have to tell.

The event is free to all; bring the whole family for an afternoon of nature, adventure, and a touch of eerie excitement!

This event is in partnership between St Michaels Church and South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre for the Wild Goose Festival spring programme.

St Michael's Graveyard Walk and Talk
2025-04-26 11:00 - 12:30 | St Michael’s Church, 87 St Michael Street, Dumfries, DG1 2LA
Walk through 1,000 years of history and learn the story of the church and the people recorded on the memorials within the churchyard, including their famous ‘resident’ Robert Burns.

Please meet for this event at the St Michael’s Church gates. If the weather is inclement, the tour will be held digitally in the church hall. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

The event will be free to access, but donations gratefully received.

This event is being held by St Michael’s Church for the Spring Wild Goose Festival.

Nature Based Writing with Write!
2025-10-01 19:00 - 21:00 | The Stove Cafe, 100 High Street, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2BJ, United Kingdom
Write! a monthly creative writing workshop, led by Karl Drinkwater. Set aside the time to be creative in short, inspirational burst, at this special Goose themed session.

Event InformationAll ages welcome.Bring along a pen and paper.

Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users including toilets, disabled parking spaces available, hearing loop in place.

Artists Exchange Evening with Sculpture Placement Group
2025-10-02 17:00 - 20:30 | The Stove Cafe, 100 High Street, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2BJ, United Kingdom
Sculpture Placement Group (SPG) warmly invites you to an evening of exchange with local organisations, charities, and community groups in Dumfries who are keen to connect with artists and creatives.

This friendly “speed networking” style event offers a chance to introduce yourself and your work, build meaningful connections, and explore possibilities for future collaborations, commissions, or artwork loans.The event also marks the launch of the Loan Toolkit – our initiative connecting artists with organisations who want to borrow artwork. If you have sculptural work you’d like to make available for loan, we encourage you to upload it to the Toolkit Catalogue in advance. Don’t work in sculpture? You’re still very welcome.

CANCELLED: Mairi Campbell: Living Stone
2025-10-02 19:30 - 22:00 | Stranraer Millennium Centre, 75 George Street, Stranraer, DG9 7JP
Living Stone is a distinctive blend of live music, song and viola as well as striking visual art, creating a rich, multi-sensory experience highlighting the mystery and beauty of everyday life.

The journey begins with the discovery of the ancient mill stone on Mairi’s great-grandmother’s croft on the isle of Lismore. Mairi explores the stone’s stories and mysteries, the images she finds within it and some of the 100 drawings she made of it.

Co-created with director Kath Burlinson and composer Dave Gray.

From £6.00 Booking Essential

Behavin? with The Stove
2025-10-03 19:00 - 21:00 | The Stove Cafe, 100 High Street, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2BJ, United Kingdom
The Stove’s regular–irregular variety night and open mic returns for the launch of Wild Goose Festival 2025.

This year’s theme is “Gone Wild” – and we’re calling on the region’s raw talent to bring the wild senses alive. Writers, poets, spoken word artists, musicians, clowns, storytellers – and (one day, surely) an acrobat – take to the stage at The Stove for a night of unpredictable brilliance.

Headline Performance from Gone Native

Edinburgh singer-songwriter duo, Bobby Nicholson & Kevin Gore, join us to perform a showcase of original and traditional songs of Scotland.Compered by Illusionist, Magician, and Master of Magical Revelry, Ryan Stokes

To help us plan the night (and make sure we know how wild it’ll get!), we encourage you to sign up in advance to perform via the Eventbrite link below.

Come share your words, your sounds, your stories – or just soak up the wild energy.

Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users including toilets, disabled parking spaces available, hearing loop in place.

Mairi Campbell: Living Stone
2025-10-03 19:30 - 22:00 | Moffat Theatre, Old Well Rd, Moffat, DG10 9AP
Living Stone is a distinctive blend of live music, song and viola as well as striking visual art, creating a rich, multi-sensory experience highlighting the mystery and beauty of everyday life.

The journey begins with the discovery of the ancient mill stone on Mairi’s great-grandmother’s croft on the isle of Lismore. Mairi explores the stone’s stories and mysteries, the images she finds within it and some of the 100 drawings she made of it.

Co-created with director Kath Burlinson and composer Dave Gray.

Accessibility Information Wheelchair accessible venue. Dedicated wheelchair space available to book through the Moffat Theatre website.

From £6.00 Booking Essential

Wild Goose Chase with Crichton Parkrun
2025-10-04 09:15 - 11:00, 2025-10-11 09:15 - 11:00, 2025-10-18 09:15 - 11:00 | The Crichton, Memorial Church, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4UQ
Join the flock on the wild goose chase at The Crichton. Take flight with the welcoming community on the fun, and friendly weekly 5k.

Event InformationAll ages and abilities welcome.Register before your first Parkrun.Event sets off from The Crichton Memorial Church.

POSTPONED: River Water Testing & Invertebrate Count with Annan Harbour Action Group
2025-10-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Everholm Park, Battery Street, Annan, DG12 5AA
At this hands-on session, you’ll help investigate the health of the River Annan by testing water quality and discovering the fascinating freshwater creatures that live below the surface.

With the help of friendly guides, you’ll identify tiny invertebrates – important little indicators of how clean and healthy our river really is. You’ll learn how these creatures help us understand the bigger picture when it comes to protecting local wildlife and looking after our natural environment.

It’s a fun, family-friendly activity that’s perfect for nature lovers, budding scientists, and curious minds of all ages. Come and explore the hidden world of our rivers, and find out how you can make a difference.

Accessibility InformationAccessible paths along the river. If you need any assistance, please contact the Annan Harbour Action Group at 01461 758210 or ahagharbourofficer@gmail.com

The Swan Woman Exhibition with Scottish International Storytelling Festival
2025-10-07 09:00 - 2025-10-29 15:00 | The Stove Cafe, 100 High Street, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2BJ, United Kingdom
Come step into the mythic with Storyteller and artist Claire Hewitt who has created a series of images and felt pieces re-imagining a powerful traditional Finnish Story ‘The Swan Woman’Event InformationExhibition open daily 9am – 3pm, closed Sunday

Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users including toilets, disabled parking spaces available, hearing loop in place.

Insights & Impacts from Waterbird Monitoring with Scottish Ornithologist Club
2025-10-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Dumfries Baptist Church, Gillbrae Rd, Dumfries, DG1 4EJ
Volunteers of the Scottish Ornithologist Club have been counting geese, ducks, waders and other waterbirds for decades; but has it helped us learn anything about them? Dr Teresa Frost, BTO’s Head of Waterbird Monitoring, explains how the Wetland Bird Survey, the Goose and Swan Monitoring Programme and other surveys organised by BTO underpin waterbird research and conservation.

Event InformationAll ages welcome. Children should be accompanied by an adult.

Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users including toilets, disabled parking spaces available, hearing loop in place.

Insights & Impacts from Waterbird Monitoring with Scottish Ornithologists Club
2025-10-09 14:00 - 16:30 | Balmaclellan Village Hall, 1 Murrayfield, Balmaclellan, Castle Douglas, Scotland, DG7 3QE, United Kingdom
Volunteers of the Scottish Ornithologist Club have been counting geese, ducks, waders and other waterbirds for decades; but has it helped us learn anything about them? Dr Teresa Frost, BTO’s Head of Waterbird Monitoring, explains how the Wetland Bird Survey, the Goose and Swan Monitoring Programme and other surveys organised by BTO underpin waterbird research and conservation.

Event InformationAll ages welcome. Children should be accompanied by an adult.

Reel to Real: Why Not Scotland? with The Stove
2025-10-10 17:30 - 21:00 | The Stove Cafe, 100 High Street, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2BJ, United Kingdom
We are delighted to be hosting a screening Scotland:The Big Picture’s brand new feature-length documentary, Why Not Scotland?, which explores the Scottish landscape through the eyes of Flo, a young Scot from Glasgow. Seeing the depleted state of nature across her own country, Flo feels dispirited and, like many of her generation, increasingly fearful about an uncertain future.

However, on a journey around Europe, Flo encounters a different story, finding places where nature is making a dramatic comeback, revitalising human communities. Encouraged by these stories of hope and renewal, she is prompted to wonder: if this is possible elsewhere, then why not Scotland?

Event InformationRecommended for aged 8+.

Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users including toilets, disabled parking spaces available, hearing loop in place.

Weirdy Geese & Halloween Trail with RSPB
2025-10-11 10:00 - 2025-10-31 16:00 | RSPB Mersehead, RSPB Mersehead Nature Reserve, Southwick, Dumfries, DG2 8AH, United Kingdom
Strange sounds and creepy features, explore the trail for spooky creatures! Follow our Halloween activity trail to create your own spell, discover some mystery and magic about nature, while creating your own potion! Who knows what weird and wonderful things you will experience? With some activities on mysterious facts about our special Barnacle Geese too. Mmwhaaaahhh!

Event InformationDrop in at any time between 10:00 – 16:00, dailyFor ages 3+. All children must be accompanied by an adult.This is an outdoor event

Accessibility InformationFirm, mostly surfaced path along route and garden. Distance: 1.2km

£3 Per Activity Pack No Booking Required

RESCHEDULED: River Water Testing & Invertebrate Count with Annan Harbour Action Group
2025-10-11 11:00 - 13:00 | Everholm Park, Battery Street, Annan, DG12 5AA

Ryes & Shine with Doughlicious
2025-10-15 19:00 - 21:00 | The Stove Cafe, 100 High Street, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2BJ, United Kingdom
This month, we’ll be gathering in true flock spirit; making bread side by side and tracing the flight path of grain from field to loaf.

Bring along your mixing bowl and a tea towel and join the gaggle as we rise together in laughter, learning, and loaves.

Event InformationAll ages welcome. Children should be accompanied by an adult.

Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users including toilets, disabled parking spaces available, hearing loop in place.

Dispute with a Butterfly with Fibi Cowley
2025-10-17 10:00 - 16:00 | Wild Goose Festival Hub, Dumfries & Galloway Carers Centre, 2-6 Nith Street, Dumfries, DG1 2PW
Step into a soft, sensory storytelling experience, following the incredible journey of the Painted Lady Butterfly. Every year, the Painted Lady Butterfly travels 9000 miles, a journey which takes her all over the world, and ensures the survival of the entire species. But no one individual could complete this alone, it happens across five generations. Following this journey through puppetry, participation and play, we discover what we can learn from this incredible creature, how important it is to learn from past generations, and how we can all work together to make the world a better place.

Event InformationThe performance happens in a pop-up installation, including a quilted floor mat and glowing lights. It’s for small groups of up to 10, ages 7+. The performance is 15-20 minutes. Performances will take at 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm

Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users – access via ramp.

Things with Strings with Fibi Cowley
2025-10-17 10:00 - 16:00 | Wild Goose Festival Hub, Dumfries & Galloway Carers Centre, 2-6 Nith Street, Dumfries, DG1 2PW
Join artist-educator Fibi Cowley for a hands-on day inspired by the work of Wael Shawky. Together, we’ll create experimental ‘things on string’! By using colourful materials and found objects, we will explore light, transparency, textures, materials and playful shapes.

This workshop encourages children to build their own characters and bring them to life through storytelling. Designed for all children ages, younger kids can enjoy creative material play, while older children can dive deeper into character-building and narrative creation.

Event InformationWorkshops will take place throughout the day – in-between performances

Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users – access via ramp.

From Greenland to Galloways: Writing Wild Geese into the Climate Crisis with Climate Kitchen
2025-10-17 18:00 - 20:30 | The Stove Cafe, 100 High Street, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2BJ, United Kingdom
Join Climate Kitchen for a special Wild Goose Festival edition featuring Stephen Rutt and David Borthwick. Together, they’ll lead a workshop exploring the Greenland white-fronted geese that winter in Dumfries & Galloway, the extreme weather events that threaten them, and their deep connections to climate. The session combines engaging talks with creative writing exercises.

Event InformationAll ages welcome. Children should be accompanied by an adult.

Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users including toilets, disabled parking spaces available, hearing loop in place.

Birdwatching Breakfast with WWT
2025-10-18 08:00 - 10:00 | The Boathouse, Quayside,, Glencaple, Dumfries, DG1 4RE, United Kingdom
Enjoy breakfast at the Boathouse in Glencaple and learn about the geese of the Solway Firth with experts from WWT Caerlaverock and RSPB Mersehead. Watch as the geese use the river to navigate to their feeding grounds whilst you start the day.

Event InformationWhilst the event is free, you will have to pay for your chosen breakfastEvent is recommended for children 10+Children must be accompanied by an adultBook your place by contacting The Boathouse Glencaple

Accessibility InformationWheelchair accessible throughout

From £7.25 Booking Required

Wild Goose Festival Foragers: Footsteps From Home with Wild Kat Foraging
2025-10-18 10:00 - 16:00 | The Wild Goose Festival Hub, Carers Centre, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway, DG1 2PW, United Kingdom
The sound and sights of barnacle geese, whitefronts and more have always heralded home to me so I am delighted to be involved in this year’s wild goose festival and on home turf too!We will spend between an hour and a half urban foraging, starting from the festival hub in Dumfries, where we will look into the surprising variety of things to forage along the way. Plantlore, foraging for food, medicine, craft, navigation and more will be the subject of the day but we can also use it to reflect on the subject of migration, how this landscape and its flora and fauna may have been used by the historical inhabitants of this very town and its surroundings whether settling down or moving on.

Once we have finished our walk and talk it will be back to the festival hub where there will be the unique opportunity to create recipe cards with the inspiring illustrator and all round lovely artist Emily Tough.

Accessibility info to come.

My name is Kat, I run Wild Kat Foraging, and I am an all year, life-long forager, historic reenactor and sufferer (happily) of chronic wanderlust, lover of wild places with a tendency to be found roaming off-grid in forests and mountains.

I have a background in bushcraft and survival skills, ranger-work, remote conservations and am in the association of foragers. The most important thing though is that I love this world of foraging that we can never stop exploring and am happy to share what I have learned and invite you to as well.

There is a whole world of foraging and plantlore to explore!

Nature on the Nith with RSPB
2025-10-18 11:00 - 13:00 | The Wild Goose Festival Hub, Carers Centre, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway, DG1 2PW, United Kingdom
Join us on one of our walks along the river to explore our local wildlife!

There will be two walks of various lengths, starting the Wild Goose Festival Hub.

11am-1pm – longer walk option: A circular walk between Devorgilla Bridge and Troqueer Cycle Bridge, starting upriver toward and then crossing Devorgilla (The Auld) Bridge, before turning downriver towards Mill Green and Rosefield Mill, then over Troqueer Cycle Bridge and returning via Dock Park and Dock Head.

2pm-3pm – shorter walk (wheelchair accessible) along river from Nith Street to Greensands and back) in search of wildlife that makes this place their home or uses the river to commute/migrate. Looking for water birds like Goosander, Mallard, Grey Heron or Kingfisher. Who knows, maybe even Otter or a goose or two too!

Collage Wild Recipe Cards with Emily Tough
2025-10-18 11:00 - 15:00 | The Wild Goose Festival Hub, Carers Centre, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway, DG1 2PW, United Kingdom
In this workshop we will be using textured, coloured paper to collage (think Eric Carle style, The Hungry Caterpillar) to create illustrations for wild recipe cards. Our recipe cards will explain how you can use foraged plants for medicine, food and navigation!

Open to anyone at any stage in their creative journey! You will be given lots of coloured, textured paper, a ‘plate’ base to work from, some pre-cut out shapes and templates for reference. There will be scissors, though ripping also works, and glue.

Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users – access via ramp.

Emily Tough is an artist, illustrator and land worker based in Dumfries. Emily is the anchor to the collective We Agree On Eggs, which works to create interesting and meaningful events which connects people to themselves and the world around them.

This has taken on forms of publications, workshops, exhibitions, and theatrical events. She is Justice team member at Propagate, a member led organisation, which works to build resilient food systems, offering real solutions to the climate and cultural emergency.

Expo 2025 with Out of the Blueprint
2025-10-18 12:00 - 16:00 | Print House, 137 High Street, Dumfries, DG1 2BH
2025 marks 10 years of Out of the Blueprint.

Out of the Blueprint is a Leith based riso studio, which supports young artists under 25 through traineeships, residencies, workshops, commissions and print projects.

In the summer of 2025, the studio celebrated it’s 10th birthday with a special three week Print Expo, featuring work from it’s four most recent resident artists, as well as four brand new zine commissions and exclusive T-shirts designed and printed by 8 artists.

Out of the Blueprint is delighted to bring a selection of work down to The Stove’s new riso room, giving people a chance to see and be inspired by some of Scotland’s freshest young print artists working today.

Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users including toilets.
