Wickerman Unveils a Red Hot Selection of

New On-Site Activities

The Wickerman Festival has today announced that it will be expanding its sizzling on-site offering this year thanks to new festival funding. To support a schedule of exciting new programming, the much-loved music event has received £17,000 from Dumfries and Galloway Council, the funding forms part of the Council’s new strategy to grow iconic festivals in the region.

As a result of this funding, Wickerman are delighted to reveal a host of new free on-site activities to fire-up festival fans even further. Revellers in need of a retro pick-me-up can get their skates on this year and bust some moves at Wickerman’s first Roller Disco. Hosted within the Headphone Arena, a series of family and adults only sessions will take place throughout the Friday and Saturday. Those keen to make a splash this summer are encouraged to do so by bringing their swimming costumes, bikinis, shorts and even budgie smugglers with them to try out the Festival’s new Hot Tubs.

On Friday, Fly Right Dance Company will provide dance workshops to help music lovers pick up some fancy footwork skills to show off over the course of the weekend. And after a long absence, the Palace Outdoor Cinema will be back to wow the crowds with outdoor screenings and its visually stunning set-up.

A very special mobile Rave Unit will also appear over the weekend to encourage revellers to party in an ordered fashion. There will be walkabout theatre galore courtesy of Mischief La Bas with their performers providing everything from emotional security to a customised hat to assist you with this year’s ‘Wicker Mad Hatters’ fancy dress theme.

In addition to the Council supported activity, the previously announced Lowland Links Tent will help fans celebrate Scotland’s Year of Homecoming in style by shining the spotlight on the Dumfries and Galloway region. Throughout the day, festival goers can research their family history, learn about the Vikings that once occupied the area and listen to local storytellers and poets bring the county’s rich heritage to life. On the Friday evening, we are thrilled to welcome BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2014 and Dumfries and Galloway native, Robyn Stapleton to perform. The evenings revelries will be rounded off by Orkney’s stomp band, The Chair. Saturday night sees multi-award winners Skerryvore return to the festival to bring the tent curtain down in style.

From escapist entertainment and al fresco adventures to spectacular sites and family favourites, Wickerman 2014 will provide a feast of treats for families with free festival admission for 12 year olds and under.  For £3 per day, children can enjoy a host of fun activities in Wickerman’s dedicated Children’s Area. All admission charges will be donated towards the education of James Okeyo, an African orphan who the festival have sponsored since 2011. Storytelling sessions, singalongs, art workshops and puppet shows are just some of the highlights that will keep children (and those accompanying them) entertained.

Why not join in with the belly dancing up at The Bandstand, where you might just encounter various other spontaneous performances. The 7stanes Display Team return to Wickerman along with the mountain bike taster sessions, soccarenas, climbing wall, bouncy castles, fairground riders, laser quest, segway riding, festival golf and rocket making workshops to add to the merryment.

Festival fans in need of some downtime can kick back, relax and enjoy The Retreat, where Catherine and her team will offer a variety of treatments including aromatherapy massage, deep tissue and trigger therapy and holistic facials all washed down with a cup of tea from the Motley Brew crew. Alongside the retreat Susan Neal will be hosting Yoga and Qigong sessions.

There is also more in store for Wickerman campers, the enhanced ‘Down and Dirty’ area features hot showers and ‘posh’ toilets whilst BeYurtiful will be on site to offer entertainment and everything from sparkles and glitter to the hire of hair dryers, hair straighteners and a full hairdressing service.

Helen Chalmers, Wickerman Festival Co-ordinator comments:

“Wickerman’s on-site activities form a key part of the whole festival experience, so we are delighted that Dumfries & Galloway Council and Homecoming Scotland have supported our growth in this area.

Similar to our music line-up, our activities schedule was created to offer something for everyone, from families and those keen to unwind to hardened party goers and adrenalin junkies.”