Guid Nychburris Announce This Years Dates And Attractions

Preparations are well underway for the Guid Nychburris Festival which will take place from Sunday 15^th – Saturday 21^st June this year. There are however many pre Guid Nychburris events planned which include the various ride outs in and around Dumfries.

Ride out dates, when current Cornet Ross Boyd and Cornets Lass Caitlin McKenzie will lead the cavalcade closely followed by Cornet Elect William Black, Cornets Lass Elect Lindsey Mundell and the Four Lynors commence on Friday 23^rd May leaving Huntingdon market at 6.30pm other ride outs (dates below) take place in the weeks leading up to the Riding of the Marches on Guid Nychburris day 21^st June.

The popular schools football tournament for primary schools will be held at the Queen of the South Arena from Monday 9^th – Friday 13^th June commencing at 9am each morning. Invites have been sent to the primary schools in Nithsdale and a large entry is expected for this event hosted by kind permission of Queen of the South Football Club.

The Guid Nychburris Association is also on the lookout for this year’s recipients of the Guid Nychbur and Junior Guid Nychbur awards, these are presented to people nominated by their community as true community neighbours and servants of our town. If you think you know the ideal person please forward your nominations to by Monday 9^th June toguid.nychburris.assoc@gmail.com

Winners will be presented with their awards at the Installation reception on Monday 16^th June.

‘Guid Nychburris’ is the theme for this year’s Shop and Office Window competition for the Alansound Trophy, entry forms are available from the Municipal Chambers or Mid Steele or through the Guid Nychburris email address. Judging will take place on Thursday 12^th June with the winners receiving their awards on Friday 13^th June.

The Municipal Chambers and Mid Steeple are also where you can uplift entry forms for this years Guid Nychburris Parade on Saturday 21^st June, one of the highlights of the Guid Nychburris day celebrations is the Parade which leaves Newall Terrace at 5pm and weaves its way round the town back to Newall Terrace. Categories for the parade this year are: Walking, Decorated Lorry, Decorated Small Vehicle, Equine, Cycling and Advertising (not judged), cash prizes will be awarded to with winners in each judged category with The Burns Howff Club Trophy awarded to best in Parade.

2025 sees the 50^th anniversary of the Schools Hand Writing Competition for the John McQueen Trophy, schools have been notified the competition is now open with the chorus of the song The Fairest of All (Dumfries) as the test piece. All schools participating will receive a specially designed certificate to indicate they participated in the 50^th anniversary of this competition.

For the older generation the senior citizens concert will be held in The Cairndale by kind permission of the Wallace family on Tuesday 16^th June, tickets which are FREE can be uplifted at a maximum of two per person on Thursday 5^th June at Morrisons Dumfries at the community room / cafeteria area.

On Guid Nychburris Day Dumfries welcomes renowned street entertainer ‘Graham’ from Perth who will walk on stilts, juggle with fire and knives and also ride his famed penny farthing cycle in the Parade later in the evening. Graham is just one of a number or performers who will be performing through out the day which includes fairground rides by Reid’s Amusements, Kingdom of Creatures, Dumfries Blood Bikes, singers, dancers, bands and much more.

Full details of all Guid Nychburris events along with event sponsors will be listed in the souvenir programme which will be on sale at the ride out on Friday 23^rd May  details will also be readily available on the Guid Nychburris Association Facebook page.

Guid Nychburris Events 2025

(provisional dates and listings   dates may change in unforeseen circumstances)

Ride Outs:

Friday 23^rd May: Woodands

Tuesday 27^th May: Netherwood

Sunday 1^st June: Tinwald

Tuesday 3^rd June: Overbanks

Friday 6^th June: Douie Vale

Sunday 8^th June: Belton Hill

Tuesday 10^th June: Dumfries Town (Incorporating Summer Park and Dock Park)

Sunday 15^th June: Mabie

Thursday 19^th June: Kingholm

Guid Nychburris Events:

Guid Nychburr and Junior Guid Nychbur Closing date for Nominations: Monday 9^th June

Guid Nychburris Primary Schools Football: Monday 9^th – Friday 13^th June

Shop and Office window Competition: Judging 12^th June

Kirkin of Cornet: Sunday 15^th June

Songs of Praise: Sunday 15^th June

Installation of Principals: Monday 16^th June

Senior Citizens Concert: Tuesday 17^th June (Ticket uplift Thursday 6^th June)

Family Pet Show: Tuesday 17^th June

Guid Nychburris 5k Road Race: Tuesday 17^th June

Dumfries Cornets Ball Wednesday 18^th June

Night of Queens Music: Thursday 19^th June

Baby Show: Friday 20^th June

Children’s Fancy Dress: Friday 20^th June

Family Treasure Trail: Friday 20^th June

Guid Nychburris Day: Saturday 21^st June