First of Borders traditional festivals called off over Covid-19 fears

Jethart Callant Euan Munro gives the battle cry Jethart's Here in July 2019.

Uncertainty has surrounded all of the region’s annual common ridings and festivals in recent weeks as the country deals with the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the country.

Last week the Scottish Government advised against the staging of events likely to attract more than 500 people, and this week things became more difficult still with all Scots being advised to avoid social contact where possible.

Common ridings, festivals and civic weeks, without doubt the biggest annual events for each of the region’s towns, could now fall victim to those restrictions.

The first on the calendar, Hawick Common Riding in June, attracts thousands of people into the town centre over three days, not to mention the hundreds more who support and follow on horseback during each of the rideouts leading up to the main weekend.

It is due to announce its cornet and acting father in just under six weeks.

Smaller towns like Jedburgh and Kelso, due to stage their festival and civic week respectively later in the summer, pull in hundreds of supporters too.

And it’s for this reason that the former has already made the decision to call off this year’s festivities.

Jethart Callant’s Festival convener Robert MacDonald said: “In response to the coronavirus crisis that we are all now facing, it is with much regret and sadness that we have made the difficult decision to cancel our 2020 declaration of the Jethart callant and also our festival.

“This decision has been reached in light of information received from the government and Scottish Borders Council.

“Whilst the traditions of our town are dear to our hearts, we must act responsibly and consider the health and wellbeing of our townsfolk.

“It may be that before the end of the year, as long as the crisis has passed, we will be able to come together as a community to mark festival 2020 in some small way.

“Thank you for your understanding in this difficult time.

“We look forward to celebrating a happy, healthy festival in 2021 with you all when we will celebrate 75 years of the Jethart Callant’s Festival.”

Other festivals and common ridings committees representatives are due to meet Scottish Borders Council officers next Wednesday, March 24, to discuss possible stagings, postponements or cancellations of their events.