Hawick Reivers Festival 2014

This community festival takes place from Friday 28th until Sunday 30th March, and offers a wide range of events over the weekend, many aimed at rediscovering Reiver ancestry through drama, music, re-enactments, crafts, walks, horses and arts. 

As the town hall is unavailable the main concert venue switches to the Old Baths.

Line-up

Friday:  Scocha.

Saturday: Evening - The first Reivers Banquet - a three course meal with entertainment to keep everyone amused. This is likely to be a very popular event which is suitable for all the family and the committee are inviting folks to dress up in the style of the period if they would like to (though this is optional).

Daytime - The current plan is to move the main 16^th century market and re-enactments out on to the High Street while using the Civic Space and Lovel Court for the Schools Games and other performances. St Mary’s Church and Drumlanrig Tower will also act as venues for the primary schools’ dramas.

As in previous years Saturday will also see the hugely popular torchlight procession and fireworks with a little bit of a difference this time (plans still being developed) – so more news to follow! However the timings will be such that folks can take in both the fireworks and the Banquet!

Sunday: The Reivers Walk and lunchtime Concert (which sadly had to be cancelled last year due to the weather) led by Ian Landles.

Hawick Rotary Club offers 2 speakers to round of the weekend with their very popular Literary High Tea in Hawick Rugby Club. “Reiving and Bereaving” is the topic of Dr Kaye McAlpine and Lucy MacRae, from the University of Edinburgh’s department of Celtic and Scottish Studies. 

The full programme of activities will include many that are free to the public and include things like demonstrations of falconry, archery and horsemanship, a look at craftsmen of the times and dramatic re-enactments. There are also concerts, guided walks, historical lectures and many other activities.

Traditional Music Workshops take place all day at various venues and include fiddle, guitar and whistle/flute to suit all(some experience is necessary).

The Reivers Market and Encampment this year moves to the High Street (Sandbed end) which will allow lots of space for the re-enactors to perform military drills, demonstrate
their swordsmanship and generally create Mayhem! Children from local primary schools will be out in force to show their skills at drumming, acting and singing and the Reivers Games will also take place on Saturday in the Civic Space from 11.15onward.

Another new venue this year is the Heritage Hub which will play host to the Archaeological Society lecture at 1pm when the theme will be what “What became of the Reivers of Liddesdale” There are also a few surprises in store at the Fireworks display
which is sited in Wilton Lodge Park on Saturday night. Please note however that to allow for this the torchlight parade will leave the Common Haugh at 6.30pm.

The Reivers Sunday Walk this year will be around “Hawick Common” and will be led by Ian Landles. To follow lunch and a concert is again in the Old Baths. Hawick Rotary Club again round off  the weekend with the very popular Literary High Tea at Hawick Rugby
Club.

Tickets

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Ticket prices vary depending upon event.

Accommodation

This event does not have camping but there are a number of hotels, hostels and guest houses in the area.

More information will be here when available.

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