Event organisers hopeful of council funding

FIVE major events are set to receive a cash injection from Dumfries and Galloway Council to help in 2025/26 - but none of them fall in Annandale and Eskdale.

The organisers behind a series of music festivals, sporting and cultural events are seeking their annual financial boost from the local authority’s major events fund.

Eight applied, three didn’t qualify and a handful are likely to receive less than they’d hoped for due to a limited cashpot.

Overall, it is being recommended that five should receive a share of the £47,000 available.

Valleyfield Eventing CIC requested £15,000 to assist with course design and site infrastructure to host the South of Scotland Horse Trials in Twynholm in June - recommendation: £5000.

Dumfries Ice Bowl Curling Association sought £10,000 for The Scottish Curling Championships 2026 core costs - recommendation: £8000.

The Galloway Motorcycle Club is also seeking £12,000 for core costs in running Drumlanrig Off-Road Motorsports Festival in May.

Recommendation: £7000.

The Stove Network wanted £14,300 towards the Wild Goose Festival, in the autumn. Recommendation: £12,000.

The RED:ON Group, which operates The UCI Gravel Cycling World Cup: The Gralloch, requested £15,000 to pay for the UCI licence - officials are recommending the full award is granted.

Final decisions will be made by councillors at next week’s education, skills and community wellbeing committee.

Meanwhile, a cashpot of £20,000 has been earmarked to help bankroll community events too - but again mid and upper Annandale doesn’t feature.

Instead councillors will next week consider if the £20,000 total in the regional events growth fund should be split eight ways to:

Castle Douglas Soap Box Derby in July – £3000

Fin and Foil Open Championships, in Stranraer in August – £3000

Dumfries International Street Food Festival in June – £3000

Annan Harbour Festival in September – £2500

Gathering of the Clans and summer programme, Annan, April to September – £3000.

Three partial grant awards are also recommended of £1834 to Whithorn Festival of Archaeology in May; and £1833 each to Wigtown Shindy in August and the summer long Rockin the Port at Portpatrick.