| Where: | Kelso, Borders - town centre with Rides leaving from and returning to The Square |
| When: | Penultimate Saturday in July and week leading to it |
| Time: | Curfew 2.40pm & Whipmans Ride on Monday;Yetholm Ride 8.30 am departure, 4.30pm return approx.on Saturday |
Kelso Civic Week is a typical series of summer celebrations in the Border tradition dating back to the 1930s and including Common Riding. Common Ridings are a boundary marking custom on horseback. They are mainly held at locations across the Scottish Borders, perhaps because this area suffered from centuries of raiding and reiving between local families and the English, and the locals needed to protect their lands from encroachment. Long after this was necessary, the Ridings survived to become major festivals. The main rideout to Yetholm is on the second Saturday of the festival, but there are other rides including one to Floors Castle and the Whipman’s Ride (traditionally on the Friday but more recently on the Monday), which is the most traditional of the rideouts and follows the ringing of the Curfew Bell and an Oration. The main protagonist here is the Kelso Laddie with his supporters the Right Hand Man and Left Hand Man- expect a large cavalcade of over 100 equestrians and lots of cheering and flag waving. Other festival highlights include a variety of sporting fixtures, fancy dress, dances, fireworks and a torchlit procession.
Helpful Hints
In 2025 the dates should be Saturday July 12th to Saturday July 19th with the Whipman’s Ride on 14th and Yetholm Rideout on 19th- check Facebook link below for full details.
Local newsagents and the photography shop sell a detailed programme for the festival.
Click here for the Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/Kelso-Civic-Week-235374749981808/
Click here for the official website: https://www.kelsocivicweek.co.uk/
Can you please let me know whenever the date for Kelso Civic Week is decided i.e. the starting date to finishing date.
Thank you.
PAT ARMSTRONG
Dear Pat,
Calendar Customs has no connection to the organisation of the featured events on the calendar – the event’s own website hasn’t yet been updated for 2013 so I can’t say for certain but I think it will run from the 13th to the 20th. I’ll will update as soon as I find out.
Best wishes,
Averil