Borders Calendar
January
The
Crossing Borders Art Trail brings artists and craft makers from the Scottish Borders together to shout out loud for creative talent in the area. We arrange Art Trails, exhibitions, workshops, social gatherings, networking events and some great Crossing Borders directories and guides. To celebrate this there are many Open Studio events throughout the year. Look out for more events when the Corona virus is defeated!
There are Burns Night events throughout the Scottish Borders in January (not just on the 25th).
February
Jedburgh Hand Ba' is played on the Thursday after Shrove Tuesday (normally late February). Traditionally the first ever game was played with an Englishman's head and the ribbons on the ball symbolise his hair. The teams ('Uppies' and 'Doonies') are chosen by where they live – Uppies born to the South, and Doonies to the North of the Market Cross. Play is in the town centre starting in the Market Place with the boys' ('Callants') game at 12 noon and the men's game following at 2pm. The Uppies goal is outside the Castle Jail and the Doonies goal at the Pleasance, each a couple of hundred yards away from the start. Several balls are thrown and the games can last for hours - lots of thrills and spills, the town's shops are boarded up for the event.
Borders Wedding Show, Springwood Hall, Kelso. Largest annual wedding show held in the Scottish Borders, perfect for all you budding brides!
March
Border Counties Rally. Annual event that starts and finishes in Jedburgh, covers the first round of the MSA British Rally Championship. Route in around the Scottish Borders roads and forestry.
The Borders Art Fair at Springwood Park, Kelso provides three fabulous days, celebrating visual arts in the Scottish Borders. There are live art demonstrations, over 50 exhibiting artist stands, creative talks and discussions,"our local heroes" exhibition, competitions, food and drink - and a whole lot of fun for all ages.
Hawick Reivers Festival, normally the last weekend in March has events throughout the weekend: meet the reiver families, re-enactments, ghost walk, 'hot trod' fireworks, banquet, lectures and lots of entertainment.
April
Kelso Races Buccleuch Cup Day is the highlight in April and there are many more fixtures on throughout the year. Fantastic day out for all the family, kids go free (under 17) but must be accompanied by an adult.
Kings of the Sevens.The game of Rugby Sevens was conceived in Melrose in 1883. Today Rugby continues to feature as one of the main sports in the Borders and there's a very active Sevens circuit in April.
The Melrose Sevens is the prestige event and there are also tournaments at Gala, Hawick, Berwick and Langholm.
May
The Riding of the Bounds in Berwick Upon Tweed traditionally takes place on the first weekend of May. The bounds are the lands between the Border and the River Tweed
The
Kings of the Sevens competition continues with tournaments in Kelso, Earlston, Selkirk and Jed-Forest. Peebles 7s is usually in early August.
Hawick Common Riding, The Hawick Common-Riding is the first of the Border Common Ridings, and celebrates both the capture of an English Flag in 1514 by the youth of Hawick at a place called Hornshole and the ancient custom of riding the marches or boundaries of the common land. On Tuesdays and Saturdays in late May up to 200 riders assemble in the centre of the town to follow the Cornet to outlying areas.
Floors Castle Horse Trial, an annual event that has made Floors Castle an established venue for the International Horse Trials and is fast becoming one of Scotland's leading equestrian events.
Art @ Ancrum. Ancrum Village is just off the A68 and hosts a long weekend of exhibitions and demonstrations by professional artists and makers in multiple venues through the village. Meet and purchase directly from the artists.
June
Historic Motoring Extravaganza at Thirlestane Castle, Lauder. Annual Vintage meet of over 600 cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. A fantastic day out!
Jimmie Guthrie Memorial Run. Annual event in Denholm village on the A698. Originally held to celebrate the 50th year anniversary of the Hawick and Border Motorcycle group and to celebrate Jimmie Guthrie, the club's most famous member. 40 -50 miles of Borders countryside covered taking about 22 hours. Motorcycles and vintage cars attend and there is always a stop off to Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick to visit the exhibition in the museum and the Guthrie statue.
Borders Book Festival, a wonderful four days of talks, discussions, food and drink, live music, comedy and so much more for all the family. Free to visit at Harmony House, Melrose.
The Selkirk Common Riding. Led by the Standard Bearer, there's an early rise to follow the band through the town and witness the bussing of the Burgh flag. The riding of the marches follows and all gather in the town square at 11 o' clock for the 'casting of the colours'. Celebrations continue in to the next day with horse racing and professional games.
The Melrose Festival Week,The Melrosian is the central figure for this festival which takes place in the third full week in June. For the best view, be in the Market Square at about 6 pm. The riders then ford of the River Tweed at about 7.00 pm – a great spectacle – returning to the town at about 9.30 pm
Peebles Beltane Week. The Riding of the Marches follows the installation of the Cornet on Wednesday evening and culminates with a ceremony at Neidpath Castle; the evening ends with the dancing of the Cornet‘s Reel in the High Street. After an early morning ride out on Saturday, Festival Day includes the crowning of the Beltane Queen (a primary school pupil), followed by a grand procession around the town.
The Galashiels Braw Lads Gathering, The ‘Braw Lad’ receives the burgh flag at 8 o’clock and leads the mounted cavalcade to Netherdale for the ceremony at the ‘Raid Stane’. At 9 o’clock the Braw Lad is fording the Tweed en route to Abbotsford (good views from Tweed Bridge). There’s a dismounted event at 10.30 am at Old Town Cross at Church Street and the mounted cavalcade then make their way around the town from 1130
July
Jethart Callants Festival and Border Games, held in Jedburgh, is spread over two weeks, culminating with Games Day on the Saturday, always the 2nd Saturday of July. The Callants festival has ride outs and events held throughout the fortnight and on the Last Friday the Callant leads his cavalcade through the town to the Abbey to have the Provost pin a rosette to the Jethart Flag. The cavalcade then proceeds to Ferniehirst Castle for ceremonies and then to the Capon Tree, one of the last surviving oaks of the ancient Jed Forest, where the President of the Callant’s Clubto pins an oak sprig on the Callant's sash. Finally the Callant lays a reath at the War Memorial near the Abbey.
The Duns Reivers Week and summer festival. The principal here is ‘The Reiver’ who receives the Burgh Flag on the Monday and leads a week of events and ceremonies, the last of which are on the Saturday; these include the riding of the Parish Bounds, starting with breakfast in the Black Bull at 6.30am. The ride sets off at 9am from the Market Square. Closing ceremonies are at 6pm.
Kelso Civic Week. The Kelso Laddie with his supporters, right and left-hand men enjoy a week long of traditions, celebrations and ceremonies. The last ride is the Langholm ride-out which lasts the whole day, culminating in the Cornets chase, a gallop around the racecourse.at 9.30 pm, after which the Flag is handed back in front of the town hall.
Border Union Agricultural Show. The Annual agricultural show held at Springwood Park, Kelso. The show has a range of classes for horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, arts and crafts and over 200 trade stands
Eyemouth Herring Queen. The tradition started as a Peace Picnic to mark the end of the 1st World War. It was repeated annually, with children marching around the town to the picnic area at Gunsgreen. Families brought along their own kettles, tea was served from urns and the children brought their own tin cups. Races were held during the day and fun was had by all. The day became a local holiday. Then James “Storey” Collin, who was Eyemouth’s harbour master at this time, saw a festival that included the crowing of a Queen when he was holidaying in the North of Scotland. He brought the idea back to Eyemouth and the committee that organised the picnic felt that the crowning of a Queen would be a worthwhile addition. The first Herring Queen was crowned in July 1939.
August
Peebles Rugby 7s Tournament Lauder Common Riding, originally related to the blessing of the lands, crops and affairs of the Burgh. The burgesses and the Town Council pledged their allegiance to their Lord. The Cornet now carries out these traditions leading a march from the Lauderdale Hotel to the Town Hall at 7 am. The standard is presented to the Cornet at 8 am at the Tollbooth and he then leads the cavalcade to the 'Waterin' Stane' and then on to the Burgess Cairn. The riders arrive back to the War Memorial at 11.30 am and the concluding ceremony take place at the Town Hall at 12 noon. Festivities continue through to the evening with a Grand March at 9 pm.
Coldstream Civic Week, begins with the introduction of the Coldstreamer who then leads the celebrations throughout the week. Flodden is the longest and largest of the four ride-outs and takes place on the Thursday where you can see more than 300 riders gallop across the battlefield at midday.
September
Tour O' the Borders. Top class road cycling event which takes you through stunning scenery on Border Roads. Starting in Peebles the route is mainly on quiet back roads, with many steep hills along the way.
October
Jedburgh Running Festival. Staged over a weekend, with Three Peaks 38 mile ultra-marathon, Three Peaks ultra-marathon relay race, CaniSports (Scotland's canicross races), half marathon road race, 10 km road race and wheelchair and Handbike 10 km race.
Kelso Antique and Fleamarket Fair. The largest fair of its kind and one of seven events held at Springwood Park, Kelso
November
Firework Displays
Ancrum Village, 7pm Free
Denholm Village, Auld Cross Keys Inn,
Bonfire lit 6pm, Fireworks 7pm. Free
Dolphinton, West Linton, 7pm Free
Ettrickbridge, Kirkhope Primary School, torchlight procession will leave primary school at 6pm, wristband entry only. Wristbands are £3, available from the school in advance or on the night from, 5.30pm.
Hawick (Burnfoot Fireworks) Mansefield Park, gates open at 6.15pm. Donations
Innerleithen, Walkerburn and Traquair
Field behinf st Ronan's Health Centre, Bonfire lit 7pm, Fireworks 7.30pm. £3 person / £10 family
Peebles, Victoria Park, Bonfire 7pm, Fireworks 7.30pm. Free
Selkirk, Ettrick Forest Bowling Club,
Bonfire 6.30pm, Fireworks 7pm.
West Linton, Lower Green,
Bonfire 6.30pm, Fireworks 7pm. Free
