Scotland’s hottest independent music and arts event, The Wickerman Festival (20th & 21st July) has excited festival fans today by announcing their topical and fun ‘Olympia’ theme and revealing spectacular sights, enchanting entertainment and adventurous activities – from yoga to hula hooping to dry slope skiing – which will be available on site. 

Gearing up for what is set to be another stellar year of music – including ten stages of and headlined by Scissor Sisters and Texas – Wickerman Festival will be an unforgettable event for more than just its exciting lineup. 

This year’s programme features storytelling by bestselling children’s author, Aiken Drum, cinema showings, festival golf, Laser Quest and the all-embracing Barabajagal Jamming Yurt. For festival goers seeking an adrenaline rush there is fire walking, grass sledging and segway riding, dance workshops, beach volleyball and even a mobile ski slope offering 30 minute lessons.  

With the Olympics only weeks away, the theme for the festival has been revealed as ‘Olympia’ – organisers are encouraging visitors to get their togas out and don their best Grecian crown to join in with the theme. Revelers can also have their picture taken in our large shabby-chic picture frame, dance around the maypole or race round to the podium in the specially created mini Olympic village for whacky races. 

Helen Chalmers, Wickerman Festival Co-ordinator comments: 

“Every year we strive to offer visitors a festival which is full of fun – and includes a few surprises! We are thrilled with the array of events on offer this year - the dry ski slope should be a great sight throughout the festival while golf and ChillOut Yoga will appeal for our active guests and our rocket making workshops should be a fun workshop for kids and adults alike.  

“We hope that festival goers will get into the spirit of our Olympia theme, and that Wickerman might encourage people to try something they haven’t before... fire walking anyone?!” 

As the gates to the campsite open on Thursday 19th July, festival goers will also get a first glimpse of this year’s towering Wickerman statue – featuring a unique pose for 2012! The 40ft structure will be set alight on Saturday evening, bringing the festival to an unforgettable close. 

Further details of what visitors can expect, on top of the music line-up, include: 

  • Mountain Bike Display Team
  • Barabajagal Jamming Yurt – a place for visitors to jam and make music with other people. Located in the acoustic village this year, the Barabajagal Yurt will play host to Andy Patterson, Caitlin Gilligan, Calum Gilligan, Denise Brownlee, Fudge and Meg, Floyd & Lee Mottram
  • ChillOut Yoga on the Field  -  for those needing a good stretch and natural ‘pick-me-up’; this activity it totally free
  • Cinema   - showing Rosemary’s Baby, Alien, The Birds, Wicker Man as well as children’s screenings
  • Festival golf
  • Dancing Workshops from The Karen Little Dancing Academy
  • DGOne Activities - Soccarena & Beach Volleyball
  • Drumming Workshops
  • Fire walking
  • Hula Hooping with The Hooping Harlots
  • Games and rocket workshops (operated by Galloway Astronomy Centre)
  • Grass Sledging & Segway Hire
  • Laser Quest
  • Ski at The Wickerman - EasySki dry ski slope will be on site with their mobile ski system 

Dumfries & Galloway Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (ADP) will also be running voluntary breath testing on site. 

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: 

“Scotland is the perfect stage for events and in Wickerman we are host to one of the world’s most innovative and exciting festivals. It has grown rapidly over the years and we are proud to be supporting the festival, which attracts visitors from the UK and further afield, whilst delivering a strong economic impact for the local area. The burning of the Wickerman is an iconic image that is recognised throughout the world, which truly showcases our wonderful cultural sector in the Year of Creative Scotland." 

There is also more in store for Wickerman campers, the enhanced ‘Down and Dirty’ area featuring hot showers and ‘posh’ toilets, added to the area are Be Yurtiful, who tend to festival tresses, and The Italian Coffee Bar, serving specialty coffee or tea and a bacon rolls. 

On the luxury camping field yurts, cloudhouses and tipis are available to book for those looking for all the comforts of home – the cosy furnished festival feel can include real mattresses, fluffy sheepskins rugs, homely cushions, a small handmade table lantern and tealights! 

Tickets  priced at £90 per adult (inclusive of camping and car parking).