Optics Demonstration with WWT
2025-10-26 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | WWT Caerlaverock, WWT Caerlaverock, Eastpark Farm, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, DG1 4RS, United Kingdom
Interested in a new pair of binoculars or a telescope? Have questions for the experts?

Optics greatly enhance your experience of watching geese and other birds, helping you see their stunning plumage and observe their fascinating behaviour.

Experts from Swarovski and Viking are visiting WWT Caerlaverock to demonstrate and sell a range of optics.​Take this opportunity to try them out and get all your questions answered.

Event InformationDrop-in at anytime throughout the day

Accessibility InformationStep free access to the Visitor Centre

The Swan Woman with Scottish International Storytelling Festival
2025-10-29 19:00 - 21:00 | The Stove Cafe, 100 High Street, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2BJ, United Kingdom
Come gather around the fire of inspiration as Finnish storyteller Anna-Maria Toivonen and Scottish Claire Hewitt weave bird lore, songs and stories from their traditions around a magical transformation tale from the North.

There was a time when we seven swan sisters flew the starry skies. There was a time we would take off our white feathered cloaks and by the soft light of the full moon dance until dawn broke.Event InformationThis event is recommended for 12+.All children must be accompanied by an adult.

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

Halloween Ceilidh
2025-10-31 19:00 - 23:00 | Loreburn Hall, Newall Terrace, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2HP, United Kingdom
The Stove & Dumfries Museums presents a spellbinding evening of music, mischief, and monstrous moves, celebrating the grand finale of the Wild Goose Festival 2025! Expect fancy dress, dancing, games, and plenty of goosebumps (the fun kind).

Live MusicZORFresh from a summer of festival magic at Kelburn and Knockengorroch, ZOR will conjure up their wild, genre-defying Gypsy-fusion to keep your bones rattling late into the night.

Sharny Beats Dance BandPrepare for a ceilidh like no other, with high-energy, foot-stomping tunes guaranteed to wake the dead and get everyone on the floor!

Frights, Fun & FestivitiesFancy Dress Contest: Think spooky, kooky, or downright eerie… the cobwebs are IN this year!

Spooky Games & Raffles: Surprises await at every corner.

Neep Carving Competition: Bring your creepiest carved neep for the Sharny gang to judge – may the eeriest root win.

Event InformationAll ages welcome! From little ghouls to grown-up goblins, everyone’s invited to dance, laugh, and revel in this frightfully fun finale.Children must be accompanied by an adultAccessibility InformationWheelchair accessible, parking nearby

Halloween Bat Walk with Loch Ken Trust & Castle Douglas Development Forum
2025-11-01 16:30 - 19:00 | The Crannog, Lochside Park, Castle Douglas, DG7 1EZ
Come along to The Crannog, next to beautiful Carlingwark Loch for a spooky kids Halloween Bat Walk, with storytelling and crafts.

4:30pm Bat Talk5pm Games and Crafts6pm Bat Walk6:30pm SunsetBack for hot chocolates

Event InformationThis is an outdoor event.Children to be accompanied by an adult.Price includes hot chocolate.To book email lindsay@lochken.org.uk.

From £2.50 Booking Required

EMAIL lindsay@lochken.org.uk TO BOOK

Journey With the Wild Geese
2026-04-01 08:00 - 2026-05-17 17:00
This April, the Wild Goose Festival and Dumfries and Galloway move together; alongside 40,000 barnacle geese taking off on their extraordinary journey. Collectively, an 80,000,000 mile effort from the Solway, in south-west Scotland, to Svalbard, north of the Arctic Circle. Moving in tandem, side by side, mile by mile, we’ll strive to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle the distance – travelling through nature and into spring.

To sign up to the challenge tap this link:https://link.stridekick.com/join?groupCode=XDMGRK6ZZW

OR

Open the Stridekick app → Tap Challenges → Tap the search icon → Enter the challenge code:XDMGRK6ZZW

Adult Goose information Sheets (1)Download

let's go for a wander
2026-04-01 13:00 - 15:00
To mark the beginning of this year’s Wild Goose Festival: Journey with the Wild Geese Movement Challenge, we’re starting with something very simple.

A wander.

We’d love to invite anyone and everyone to join us for a relaxed wander through town – a chance to stretch your legs, meet a few new people, and take a moment out of your day.

No pressure.No agenda.

Just people going for a walk together.

We’ll meet at Fountain Square outside The Stove Café, before heading on an easy route through Dock Park, down towards the Kirkpatrick Macmillan Bridge, across to the Suspension Bridge, and back to Fountain Square.

You can join for the whole journey, or just part of it. Walk, wheel, wander – go at your own pace.

And to sweeten the journey, we’ll have some ice creams waiting.

Everyone is welcome – friends, families, colleagues, neighbours, and anyone who simply fancies getting out for a walk.

Accessibility Information:

The meeting point at Fountain Square outside The Stove Café is on level ground with step-free access. The full walking route is step-free and suitable for wheelchair users and mobility aids. Paths through Dock Park are wide, surfaced park paths. The route across Kirkpatrick Macmillan Bridge and the Suspension Bridge uses level pedestrian walkways. There are no steps, stiles, or barriers along the planned route. Participants are welcome to walk, wheel, or join for part of the route at their own pace. The walk is informal and flexible, so people can turn back or rest whenever they wish. Accessible toilets are available at The Stove Café before and after the walk.
