Our Event Charter
Sustainability in public events
Events – whether large or small – are a great way to showcase your passions, be they food, adventure, music or walking (just as examples!). They also help build social connections and boost our local economy.
However, do you think about the environment when organising your event by not using one-way plastics, for example? Do you care about the history and culture of the land around you?
We think that the great majority will answer ‘YES’ to the questions above, and that’s why we have created southwest Scotland’s first Sustainable Event Charter – to help organisers share and promote their innovations and hard work.
Our charter invites you to tell us how you are organising your festival, fete, exhibition or show to have the lowest possible environmental impact, and how you are using your event to raise awareness of our UNESCO Biosphere designation.
The Biosphere team are available to advise on ‘Thinking Global, Acting Local’, and we can support you in making your event even more sustainable. Signing up to our charter allows you to use the event logo above, and you will receive a certificate to display at your venue and use digitally on your social media platforms.
Want to find out more? Get in touch via the form below or by email to info@gsabiosphere.org.uk.
Read more about events that have signed up to our charter
Strandline 2024 Illuminated Trail
Strandline 2024 is an illuminated Trail taking place on Hogmanay. It celebrates Seaside Towns and Hogmanay of old with illuminated installations around the town depicting traditional seaside themes; chips, ice creams, buckets and spades, fish and fishermen through to prehistoric standing stones and futuristic, steam punk space age and time related structures. We hope to achieve a sense of community and togetherness as families wander the trail, meet and greet fellow wanderers.
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Bogle’s Ball Carrick Carnival of Light 2024
27th October – The parade starts at 6.45pm Glendoune Centre
This event is the culmination of 6 weeks of community lantern workshops and 500 people making lanterns in the Towns and villages of Carrick, Ayrshire. The theme “The Bogle’s Ball” is a celebration of traditional Scottish Halloween customs, Bogle’s (Goblins). Bogies,(Scarecrows) Ghosts, Witches and Tumshies (turnips).
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Girvan Traditional Folk Festival 2025
The 2025 festival will be the 50th since it was founded in 1975. Core events will be the folk festival staples of concerts, workshops, competitions, family events and a vibrant fringe of informal music sessions in pubs and hotels. Organisers hope this year’s special projects allied to an ambitious artistic programme for the 50th anniversary will create a buzz that points the way towards a sustainable future. The festival is branded as ‘Scotland’s 1st Sustainable Celebration of Traditional Music’ and is a member of Creative Carbon Scotland’s Green Arts Initiative and a Proud Supporter of the GSA Biosphere.
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Wigtown Book Festival 2024
Wigtown Book Festival (WBF) grew out of the community-initiated project that led to Wigtown becoming Scotland’s national book town. It attracts thousands of visitors each year. WBF’s programme offers high-quality literary events – including dedicated children’s and young people’s programmes – as well as music, visual arts and theatre. In doing so, it offers a space to showcase and celebrate Dumfries & Galloway’s distinctive culture and heritage.
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GoGirvan Christmas Market 2024
A community event organised by GoGirvan to support local crafters and local businesses.
Christmas in a traditional-style Christmas Market setting with Christmas carols at Stumpy Corner.
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Raiders Gravel Festival 2024
Raiders Gravel is a truly Scottish gravel adventure ride, held over four days in the heart of the Galloway Forest Park in South-West Scotland.
Over three stunning routes riders will explore the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, witnessing its stunning beauty and wildlife.
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Newton Stewart Walking Festival 2024
Often described as Scotland’s best kept secret, Galloway is a wonderfully unspoilt landscape with an endless variety of routes for walkers to enjoy.
The walking festival offers around 30 routes over 7 days, with transport and guides included, as well as a programme of evening social events.
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Maidens Ocean Festival 2024
World Ocean Day rallies the world for ocean and climate action annually on 8 June, and works year-round in partnership with youth leaders/organisations, zoos, aquariums, museums, as well as a huge range of organisations and businesses in a growing global network. Maidens Ocean Festival connects the community of North Carrick, South Ayrshire, with all the above educating on the beauty and value of oceans and waterways, and inspiring with practical, achievable ideas to reduce our environmental impacts.
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The Green Fayre 2024
The GSAB Partnership’s flagship event launched in 2022, aiming to promote sustainability and spotlight local projects in conservation and climate action. The Green Fayre also acts as a showcase of volunteer opportunities. Among the attractions this year will be seed, plant, produce and clothes swaps, nature art activities, and a pop-up café.
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Spring Fling 2024
Spring Fling is a vibrant visual art and craft open studios event covering the length and breadth of Dumfries and Galloway in South West Scotland; it is highly regarded as one of the UK’s most successful contemporary visual art and craft events.
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Glencairn Midsummer Gathering 2024
The Glencairn Midsummer Gathering is organised by The Friends of the John Corrie Wildlife Garden. It has been developed to foster community spirit, educate the community about the local environment and encourage them to become active in its protection, and to sustain the benefits of the weekend across the community for the long term. The festival offers land and nature-based activities in Moniaive and Wallaceton including walks, bushcraft and land skills activities.
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Your Event
If you plan an event and would like to let your visitors know that you are thinking about your impact on the environment and community, get in touch with us.
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