Youth Beatz 2024 Fringe Festival Launched!

The 2024 Youth Beatz Fringe Festival will run for 9 days between Wednesday 19 th June and Thursday 27 th June, with an event in each Ward area of Dumfries and Galloway. The Fringe provides activities for young people and their families across our region, with the events themselves being designed by a group of young volunteers with a focus on providing opportunities that are entirely free and accessible geographically to communities across our region.

The Youth Beatz Fringe 2024 will offer a wide range of activities and events that are open to all to attend but also events that are specifically for young people with Additional Support Needs, Young Parents and Care Experienced Young People.

From Roller Discos to Inflatables, outdoor Urban Festivals to Music Nights, there is something for everyone being delivered in local communities across Dumfries and Galloway. All Fringe events are free for people to attend, and as well as events aimed at young people aged 12-25, there are also sessions that are open to children and families.

The Fringe is being kicked off in Dumfries at Heathhall Park for the Family Night Out on Wednesday 19th June from 4:00-6:00pm featuring the MyPod mobile youth centre, sports, inflatables and competitions. The opening day of the Fringe will also see a Silent Roller Disco in Castle Douglas Town Hall from 7:00-9:00pm where you can skate around and choose from one of two playlists made up by young people.

On Thursday 20th June we have the Party in the North at Summerhill Community Centre in Dumfries from 6:00-9:00pm. In partnership with Summerhill Community Centre and YMCA Dumfries, the event will host a range of activities including inflatables, human archery, food, music and more. The event is open to children and young people, and families.

Anne Marie Coulter, Centre Manager, Summerhill Community Centre said of the event: “The Fringe festival being delivered throughout the region is an amazing opportunity to engage with the whole community of children and young people and provides new experiences, fun activities, and brings everyone together. The event at Summerhill will bring volunteers and Youth Work staff as well as other organisations together which will benefit all young people attending.”

The Fringe events continue on Thursday 20th June in Wigtownshire, with two events being hosted at each side of the locality:

 Urban Festival in Stair Park, Stranraer from 5:00-7:00pm featuring graffiti workshops, DJ sessions, and competitions.

 Silent Roller Disco in Vibe 75, Newton Stewart from 6:00-8:00pm.

On Friday 21 st June, the Young Parents Celebration will take place in Loreburn Hall, Dumfries from 1:00-3:00pm, providing young parents and their children with the opportunity to come along and meet other young parents, take part in fun activities including soft play and inflatables, and get information on services that are available for young and expectant parents.

On Friday evening from 7:00-10:00pm, Loreburn Hall in Dumfries will be hosting the Under 18’s Night Oot, featuring music from local DJs, facepainting and plenty of dancing. Please note, sign up is required in advance for this event. Young people aged 12-17 can get tickets for the event through their local Dumfries and Galloway Council Youth Work Service youth group- speak to a Youth Worker today.

On Saturday 22 nd June, there are three events taking place in different areas of the region:

 At Langholm Cricket Pitch from 11:00am-12:30pm young people can come along and try out some Pre-Game Activities at the Cricket Sixes. The event is being delivered in partnership with Xcel Project, and will include inflatables, sports and cricket practice.

 From 12:00-3:00pm in Wigtown, pop along to Lightlands Park for a Family Fun Day featuring barbecue, mobile youth centre, inflatables, games, music and more.

 Lockerbie Town Hall will be hosting the Silent Roller Disco from 7:00-9:00pm featuring playlists picked by young people.

Member of the Newton Stewart Event Group, Shaynie McMurray, who has been involved in co-designing the Youth Beatz Fringe Events said: “The Youth Beatz Fringe Festival is a great opportunity to get involved in the free events that are happening in your local community. We have had a great time planning the activities alongside the Fringe team ensuring that the events are youth led and informed by the needs and wants of young people across the region.”

On Monday 24 th June, the Super Mondays youth group from Dumfries are hosting their Super Mondays CD Launch at Oasis Youth Centre from 6:30-8:30pm. The young people at Super Mondays have been working hard to record their own album. The event will be open to other organisations to come along and see the performance, and you can RSVP on the Youth Beatz website at www.youthbeatz.co.uk/fringe

Tuesday 25 th June sees the Silent Roller Disco visit Victoria Halls in Annan from 6:008:00pm, as well as the Urban Festival at Kirkcudbright Skate Park from 5:00-7:00pm.

The penultimate day of the Youth Beatz Fringe takes place on Wednesday 26 th June with Inflatable Madness at Hillview Leisure Centre in Kelloholm from 4:00-6:00pm. The event will feature football darts, speed cage as well as inflatables and music. From 5:00-7:00pm in Colliston Park, Dalbeattie, you can take part in the Outdoor Challenge night and try your hand at tug-o-war, inflatables and a survival workshop in the outdoor escape room.

The Fringe Finale will take place Thursday 27 th June at Park Farm Showfield in Dumfries, where the Youth Beatz Site will host the 4 th annual gathering for care experienced young people from across the region, #WeCare 12noon – 8pm. The programme has been designed by young people and is a chance for young people to enjoy themselves, try new experiences and have their say! This event requires registration in advance. If you would like to know more, please e-mail [email protected] or call 01387 260243 for more information.

Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Communities Committee, Councillor Ian Blake said: “Our Council is committed to ensuring that young people across the region are able to attend events in their local area, and at no cost to them and their families. We would like to thank all of the Volunteers who have been involved in the co-design and the upcoming delivery of the Youth Beatz Fringe Festival.”

Throughout the Youth Beatz Fringe Festival there will be competitions and challenges for young people attending to win tickets for this year’s Youth Beatz – for which all tickets have been allocated – and competitions to win ‘Meet and Greet’ tickets with performers.

Vice Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Communities Committee Councillor Jackie McCamon: “We are delighted to see this action-packed programme that covers every Ward of Dumfries and Galloway for the Youth Beatz Fringe Festival. The range of activities that are available during the Fringe support our young people to try new things, have fun with their friends and to broaden their horizons, enabling them to build their confidence.”

All events are FREE to attend and other than the Under 18’s Night Oot, the Super Mondays CD Launch, and the #WeCare event, there is no sign up required!

Chairperson of Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council, Ailsa McDairmant said: “Youth Beatz Festival is so much more than the main event weekend and the Fringe is delivering a great programme across the region. It is great to see such a broad range of events happening across Dumfries and Galloway to suit all interests.”

Youth Beatz Festival is grateful to be funded by a number of funders for this year’s event, including Dumfries and Galloway Council, Young Start, Awards for All, Event Scotland, and Alcohol and Drug Partnership.

Youth Beatz Fringe 2024 Full Programme