Nithraid, the colourful annual celebration of the River Nith is this Saturday 23 August.
With high tide arriving early, Nithraid 2025 takes place around lunchtime. The activities on Mill Green (https://maps.app.goo.gl/nP6sHE9L1i55JWJC9) start at 11am and the boats are due to arrive from 1pm so come early and bring a picnic or enjoy a special Nithraid menu at the Bonnie Bistro in the Robert Burns Centre.
The 2025 spectacular Progress of the Salty Coo (procession) from the centre of town to the river will leave at approx 11.30am. Led by artist Alex Rigg of Oceanallover it will feature contributions from communities along the path of the Nith and a performance on arrival at Mill Green. All welcome to come and join in. Gather at Planestanes 11am.
There’s a vibrant new programme on Mill Green staring from 11am. There will be traditional boat-building demos and a windmill-powered water purifier where you can toast the river and help shape a River Rights manifesto. Events include a talk by Judith Hewitt from Dumfries Museum on the river’s history, a photographic journey from source to sea by a young local photographer Trinity Coombs, a film programme on rivers and ecology at the Robert Burns Centre and a discussion on using the river’s energy to power cultural events.
You’ll also find the popular flag design workshop run by EcoArt and as in previous years all the colourful community made flags carrying their environmental messages will fly from the pedestrian bridge. There’ll be family workshops, demonstrations by Wordsmith Crafts Cluaran Project, talks and exhibitions and an opportunity to open a moth trap to see which of these magical creatures visit the Nith at night. The Moving Images film caravan will also be back, screening river themed films and animations. We look forward to seeing you there.
All info at https://nithraid.org/