Nithraid, the colourful annual celebration of the River Nith is on Saturday 15th August. 11.30am-5pm!

Alongside the excitement of the iconic river race, The Progress of the Salty Coo procession and the festival atmosphere, Mill Green will be buzzing with creative experiences celebrating the River Nith and its history, ecology and future. The vibrant programme starts at 11.30am. You’ll 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, art installations, demonstrations, talks and exhibitions. The Tidal Choir led by Kate Howard will be performing; learn the songs beforehand or come and join in on the day info here. The Moving Images film caravan will also be back, screening river themed films and animations.

The boats will arrive from approx 2pm onwards. Bring a picnic or try the tasty food onsite and come and watch the boats arrive!

The 2026 spectacular Progress of the Salty Coo (procession) will be led by artist Alex Rigg of Oceanallover. It will feature contributions from communities along the path of the Nith and a performance both at Planestanes and on arrival at Mill Green. All welcome to come and join in. Gather at Planestanes at 11am.

All events at Nithraid are FREE! We look forward to seeing you there

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PROGRAMME

The Progress of the Salty Coo
Gather and performance 11am. Planestanes Dumfries.
Leave approx 11.15pm.
Arrive Mill Green 12.00pm (approx)
The spectacular Progress of the Salty Coo through the town centre, over the Devorgilla Bridge and to Mill Green will bring communities together from along the Nith, each with individually designed elements reflecting their relationship with the river. With costumes designed by Alex Rigg of Oceanallover, music and choreography, this is something not to be missed.
Come and join in, there’ll be flags and banners to be carried.

River Race
Starts 1.15pm (approx) at Lifeboat Station, Glencaple
Boats start to arrive approx 2pm between Mill Green Dumfries and Whitesands steps
Come and watch the boats arrive!
2.45pm High Water Dumfries
3.00pm Prize giving
3.30pm (approx) Boats depart and The Salty Coo is committed to the waters.

Mill Green Activities
11.30am – 5pm
Keeping at its heart the spectacular fun of the river race, the Rite of the Salty Coo and its festive atmosphere, the Mill Green brings audiences an array of free creative activities and events with an environmental focus. Highlights include:

• The ever-popular EcoArt flag-making workshop
• The Moving Images Cinema Caravan
• A windmill-powered water purification sculpture, where you can toast the river and contribute to a River Rights Manifesto
• A photographic exhibition by Caitlin Wells Photography
• Japanese hammer-printing workshops
• Animation workshop for all ages
• Blacksmithing by Wordsmith Crafts – Bring bits of broken car spring and they will hammer them into useful things!
• Scientists from SWSEIC opening moth traps set the night before
• A workshop by artist and singer songwriter Emma Gillespie. Info and booking

In addition you’ll find the following timed activities:

• 12.30pm: A participatory choir, led by Kate Howard, welcoming the incoming tide. More info here
• 2.00pm: Artist John Wallace and Prof. Pete Smith discuss their project ‘Burn’.
• 2.30pm. A Seagull Call competition!
• 4.00pm: A talk by Judith Hewitt from Dumfries Museum exploring representations of the River Nith in art.
• 4.30pm: Artists Nick Millar and Minty Donald share their work ‘A River is not a Line on a Map’.
• 7.00pm: Film. Expressing the Earth. Glenda Rome at The Robert Burns Centre.