About this Event
Welcome to the second edition of the Tweed River Festival! Join us in Melrose in the Scottish Borders for two days of river-focused creative activities: from collective net-making to riverside listening walks; costume-making to screen-printing; circus performances to photography workshops; film screenings, food, wild swimming, a parade, and more!
Conceived as a gathering of river-loving communities, the 2026 festival is the culmination of Connecting Threads’ 2026 programming theme Under, over, round and through: which borrows its title from group dance warm-ups encouraging participants to focus on their relationships to the surrounding space and to each other. We invite you to join us as we trace connections between the river, our minds, our bodies, and our communities across a multitude of scales.
Circus Walkabout
A roaming promenade of music, story and stilt-walking, drawn from trees, rivers and the turning seasons. Rea's performers move among the crowd, drawing audiences into a shared moment of awe, wonder and ceremony.
Rowan Environmental Arts (Rea) create unique outdoor experiences that inspire, using nature connection and storytelling as a catalyst for change and climate justice. Their events celebrate the changing seasons, connecting people with their local green spaces and encouraging a greater appreciation for the beauty and importance of the trees and our river.
Ticketing
This event is free for all to attend.
Access
Please see the access info page on our website for details on Melrose Corn Exchange, other festival venues, and individual workshops. The page also contains information about access bursaries to support with travel, childcare, and other costs to attending Tweed River Festival.
Event venue & nearby stays
Corn Exchange, Market Square, Melrose, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.