Sun 6th  September 12 to 5 pm

Join us for an afternoon of history, heritage and creativity packed with family-friendly activities. 

What to Expect at Newstead Sundials Festival 2026

A Celebration of Newstead’s unique history and heritage.

Nestled between the Eildon Hills and the River Tweed, the Newstead Sundials Festival is a celebration that brings together our community and visitors to consider the passage of time through our unique settlement. The festival will be a vibrant tapestry of music, workshops, stories, food, and community spirit - where the past meets the present.

Festival Opening

Festival goers will be welcomed to the Festival by the Melrose Pipe and Drums Band who will march down Main Street followed by a time-themed fancy dress parade. 

Launch of the Stonemasons Trail

Our very own stone mason will guide you through Newstead pointing out the legacies left by his ancestors who lived and worked here while building Melrose Abbey. Watch out for the sundials hidden around the Villalge in plain sight.

The Yiddy ‘Stage’ - connections with the River Tweed and nature

Workshops with Connecting Threads

Join artists at the Yiddy on the banks of the Tweed working with Connecting Threads to bring a new perspective on the River on our doorstep. More details to follow.

Bright Green Nature 

Bright Green Nature is excited to be hosting a lively stall at the upcoming Newstead Village Festival! Visit us to discover wildlife displays, take part in fun family activities, and pick up free resources on how you can get involved to support local nature. Chat with our friendly team, learn about our various conservation projects, and enter our prize draw for your chance to win a Make a Metre Wild kit! 

The Once-Upon-a-Time ‘Stage’ - Family and Children’s Activities

The Once-Upon-a-Time Stage will host family-friendly, fun activities throughout the day including

·       Time Traveller’s Treasure Trail: Children become time travellers and embark on a treasure trail that will take them around the treasures hidden in plain sight around Newstead.

·       Storytelling  - Join storyteller, Nicola Toneri who will tell family-friendly tales related to the Scottish Borders.

·       Sundial-themed crafts, where children can make and decorate their own sundials to take home.

·       Face Painting – for the little ones.

Games and crafts to entertain families for the afternoon.

The Village Green ‘Stage’ – Music, Food and Ale

·       Live Music throughout the afternoon with Ian Phillips and Friends. 

Ian will be running a series of workshops leading up to the Festival to help talented Newsteaders to hone their skills and build their confidence to perform on the day. 

No festival would be complete without a tempting array of food and drink.

·       The Sundial Inn – Pop-up Bar, serving a range of locally produced ales and refreshments.

·       The Masons Grill BBQ – serving quality burgers and vegetarian options.

The Village Hall ‘Stage’- The Cornerstone Cafe

Enjoy a peaceful oasis at the Village Hall, decked out as a Roman hostelry serving:

·       Tea and coffee

·       Home-baked cakes and sweet delights

Trimontium ‘Stage’

As part of the Trimontium Museum’s participation in Doors Open Days, we will be joined by the Trimontium team of staff and volunteers. Visitors can enjoy:

·       Guided walks of the Trimontium Fort site throughout the day

·       Displays of Roman Dancing by Thania M. Flores

·       Roman firepower demonstrations of a replica Ballista by Rob Longworth (ancient weapons expert)

·       Dressing up in Roman costume

·       A ‘Finds Table’ – showing some of the artefacts which have been discovered at the fort site

Festival Street Market

Our Festival Street Market will tempt you with a range of locally produced arts, crafts and foods along Main Street throughout the afternoon – treat yourself to souvenirs, gifts and works of art while supporting local businesses.

Classic Car Rally

Take a trip back in time with a look around the Borders Reivers Classic and Modern Car Club rally at the NHS Borders Administration Car Parking area.

Festival Close

Raffle draw. Festival organisers thank the community, volunteers, and sponsors, and invite everyone to return the following year in what we hope will become an annual fixture on the Newstead calendar.

Practical Information

·       Dates: The festival will take place between 12noon and 5pm on Sunday 6th September.

·       Accessibility: While we endeavour to make the festival site fully accessible to visitors with limited mobility, due to the nature of the topography of our village, and some rough pathways some areas may be difficult to access, please contact us in advance if you may require additional assistance. There will be disabled parking spaces allocated as near to the Festival site as possible.

·       Transport: Nearest Train Station – Tweedbank. Borders Bus services will be re-routed along the A6091 bypass, where there are bus stances, during the road closure times of 11-6pm.  Designated car parking will be available at the East entrance and signposted from the A6091 bypass.

The Newstead Sundials Festival offers something for all ages and interests—a celebration of time, creativity, and community, set in one of Scotland’s most storied landscapes.

Newstead Sundials Festival 2026 is a free festival. The event is being organised by Newstead Village Community Trust (NVCT) in collaboration with Trimontium Trust and Connecting Threads (the creative arm of Destination Tweed).