The region’s Commonwealth Village is preparing to stage a week long festival.
The streets in Eastriggs are all named after places in the Commonwealth to reflect the nationalities of those who worked at the munitions factory along the Solway during World War I.
With Commonwealth Day falling on March 14 this year, the community is pulling together to make a week of it with events running from March 12 to 19.
The idea for the event originated from the Devil’s Porridge Museum but it has grown in recent days with more community organisations joining in to bulk out the programme.
Chairman at The Porridge, Richard Brodie said: “ The whole thing has snowballed from the small initial budget we had for a low-key event.
“Everyone though has come together to make it something special with Eastriggs Community Group and Annan the History Town putting money and effort into the mix.
“Sponsors like Rotary have come forward and local businesses have been very supportive. It means that our community can come out of the Covid pandemic with a bang and come from Auckland Walk to The Rand to celebrate being the Commonwealth Village.”
The fun starts on Saturday, March 12, with two musical acts and it is hoped the audience will “embrace the Commonwealth theme”.
The next day there will be traditional children’s games in the museum’s grounds and re-enactors Time Bandits will bring history to life.
This will be followed by a free open evening on Monday, March 14, with visitors able to meet the museum’s new curator, Emma Gilliland, and enjoy tastes of the Commonwealth.
Eastriggs Primary School will be involved in the special week of events and there will be something special for teenagers on the Wednesday when Dumfries and Galloway Council Youth Service are bringing their My Pod interactive bus to the village.
A Commonwealth Quiz at the Wayside Inn on the Friday night will set the scene for the Eastriggs Commonwealth Historic Games in Melbourne Park on Saturday, March 19, which is being hailed as “one of the biggest free events held in Eastriggs for many years”.
Professional acts have been booked like Circus Avago to amaze the crowds and teach their tricks. There will also be Angus McLaugh The Magic Juggler, bouncy castles, roundabouts for children, beat the goalie, face painting and hobby horse jousting.
