Home > Uniquely Unspoilt Magazine > Issue 17 > Reivers Festival
~~ The Hawick Reivers Festival - by Joanne Golton ~~
The sounds of horses? hooves, clashing swords and musket fire will ring through the streets of Hawick during the Easter weekend as crowds will flock to the many events that will make up the third Hawick Reivers Festival.
Hawick lies at the heart of reiver country, in what was known as the Scottish Middle March, and this festival not only brings to life some of the region?s turbulent history but also evokes the spirit of the reivers and celebrates its legacy in our culture and traditions.
By the 16th century, hundreds of years of conflict between Scotland and England had turned the borderland between the two countries into a place familiar with turmoil and warfare, where livelihoods were hard won and easily lost. It was a time of raid and reprisal, blackmail and bloodfeud, which bred resourceful and ruthless men, cattle thieves and outlaws, men who became known as the Border Reivers.
This exciting festival celebrates this period of history bringing that 16th century period to life with re-enactments and historical events and also evokes the spirit of those times through music and the arts and a spectacular procession and fireshow.
It can be too easy to romanticise the reivers? exploits and the violence they enacted with arms and with arson. But fire and steel were not only basic elements of the reivers? way of life, they also defined the spirit of the people that lived it: a fiery pride and passion and a steel-like courage and determination in their actions.
Last year, the spring sunshine glinted off the steel helmets of the many costumed re-enactors who mingled with visitors and townspeople, providing a colourful sight in the ?Reivers? Encampment? behind Drumlanrig?s Tower Museum throughout the day.
This year they will be joined in the town centre by traditional craftspeople; a working blacksmith and a mediaeval market while the birds of prey from Jedforest Falconry will attract onlookers in Towerdykeside courtyard.
Music and drama in Drumlanrig?s Tower museum, and art workshops, Border plays and Reiving rambles nearby will add to an already packed programme celebrating the Borders? reiving heritage and local culture.
As the sun sets, an estimated 1500-strong crowd will gather in the Common Haugh to witness a skirmish involving raiding Reivers heralding the beginning of a torchlight procession. The procession will weave along the torch-lined avenue of Wilton Lodge Park and the movement of lights will create a spectacular sight for those assembling in the Volunteer Park for the conclusion of the festival?s open-air events.
A specially designed bonfire in the shape of a traditional Border Peel Tower will be lit followed by the night?s finale- a fantastic firework display.
The festival will kick off on Thursday 24th March. The much-anticipated Reivers Night concert in Hawick Town Hall will serve up a great feast of talent in song, music and poetry.
Fifteen local groups were involved in organising the festival and funding for the event was secured from Hawick Partnership Area Regeneration Grant Scheme, local businesses, donations and Scottish Borders Council. It promises to be a memorable festival.
Joanne Golton
Reivers Festival
The following holiday cottages relevant to this article are currently available for these events:
Saturday 19th-26th March 2005 - Borders Reivers Festivals
Gardeners Cottage - £325 - sleeps 4
Heathcote Cottage - £345 - sleeps 8
Swanshiel Cottage - £315 - 6
Old Hyndhope - £285 - sleeps 6
Crawshaws - £245 - sleeps 4 (5) | 
