Posted : 1 May 2024

Dundee’s Slessor Gardens, City Square and Waterfront are set to be transformed into a food and drink haven this summer as Dundee Food Festival reveals its first line-up of events.

Organisers, Dundee City Council, will serve up a delicious offering of community-led workshops and events across multiple venues that will see residents and visitors be encouraged to eat, drink, play and think, as they explore the wonders of the city's food, drink and hospitality scene.

Taking place on Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7, the two-day festival will see numerous local businesses get involved and activities will pop-up across varying locations.  They include V&A Dundee, Discovery Point, City Square, the Waterfront, Slessor Gardens, fringe events across the city and more.

Activities such as a street food market at V&A Dundee, a local producers showcase with cooking demos at The Keiller Centre with Kitchen Press, Jim’s Delhi, and Lyndsey Kitchen, and herb and flower arrangement workshops run by Verdant Works are a few not to miss events.

The family-friendly weekend will see various free activities for children to enjoy including ScrapAntics and Dundee Science Centre’s playful educational sessions in Slessor Gardens.

The main festival hub will be based at City Square with food stalls, characters on stilts, street performers, live music and more which will keep little ones busy.

For those who enjoy a tipple, The Discovery will be hosting a beer and toastie night with local firms LAW Brewing Co and Strathearn Food Co. on Saturday, July 6 from 5-8pm.

Bakers won’t want to miss the free workshop on Sunday afternoon at 4.30-5.30pm at Braw Tea Cafe in Broughty Ferry with Jeni Iannetta of Bad Girl Bakery, who is originally from Kirkton, Dundee. The well-known Scottish baker owns venues in Muir of Ord and Inverness and is held in high regard by celebrity chef Nigella Lawson who has raved about her bakes and cookbook online.

Social enterprise, The Eden Project, which is bringing Eden to Dundee, has challenged children from local schools to design a sustainable packed lunch.  The children will use knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to create a picnic that they can take to and enjoy at the festival. 

Talks and lectures from local organisations with leading scientists from University of Dundee, James Hutton Institute and Abertay University will leave attendees inspired.  Award-winning chef, Dean Banks from Arbroath, will host a talk and question and answer session on sustainability at one of the city’s newest cocktail bars, Temple Lane.

City Council Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure Convener Councillor Steven Rome, said: “I am very encouraged that so much progress is being made to deliver the first Dundee Food Festival.  Excitement will no doubt continue to build in the lead-up to July and I hope that the range of attractions on offer will prove to be popular.”

Sustainability is at the heart of Dundee Food Festival, promoting active travel with partners such as Dundee Cycle Hub providing activities at the Waterfront.

The event is designed to highlight the local larder, encourage community involvement and celebrate the food heroes of the city and surrounding area.  Dundee is abundant in quality food and drink and around 70% of Scotland’s fresh produce is located within 30 miles of the city.

It is also on a journey to become more sustainably conscious and any partners taking part are asked to pledge to the festival’s Sustainability Charter which focuses on food waste, reduction of plastic use, and using more local produce.

City Council Climate, Environment & Biodiversity Committee Convener Heather Anderson, added:We are placing a strong emphasis on sustainability and the local reaction so far has been extremely heartening.”

Dundee Food Festival will be a highlight in locals’ and visitors’ calendars and is a great opportunity to eat, drink, play and think.

A range of local businesses will be participating throughout the event, hosting and organising food-focused activities which are yet to be announced.  These events will continue to highlight the importance of supporting local, celebrate Dundee’s food heroes, and bring together the wider community through the medium of food and drink.

The festival has been delivered in collaboration with local partners including the Dundee City Council, Eden Project, V&A Dundee, James Hutton Institute and Eat and Drink Dundee.

For additional information and to find out how to get involved visit www.dundeefoodfestival.com

 

Dundee Food Festival 2024

Join us at The Dundee Hooley as we celebrate the values of kindness and hospitality that St Andrew’s Day and Scotland exemplify. We extend a warm invitation to everyone to gather with family and friends for a memorable and enjoyable evening.

Register for the Dundee Hooley Torchlight procession here. 
 

 

Save the date, Saturday 25th November 3pm – 7.30pm, as we come together for a family-friendly and FREE celebration in Dundee City Square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pushing the boundaries of performance through the fusion of Circus, Music, Dance and Theatre melded together in flames. An unforgettable fire performance awaits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captivating dance performances from Bharatiya Ashram Dance Group and Urban Moves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poppy Bubbles

Prepare to be mesmerised with delightful bubble fun.

 

 

 

 

 

Ross Brown Football Freestyler

Impossible seeming skills and tricks performed with a football using all parts of the body.

 

 

 

 

 Mirrorball Heads

Vibrant dancing, entertaining and family fun not to be missed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live music on stage by Ceol Dun Deagh and the lively ceilidh band, Skyrie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While you immerse yourself in the festivities, be sure to savour mouthwatering stovies and enjoy a wee dram from our local street traders. We look forward to sharing this joyous occasion with you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There will be BSL interpretation on stage for the Hooley, and Pamis will be on site with their changing places mobile toilet.

See our accessibility guide here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The centrepiece of the evening promises to be the Dundee Hooley parade! This torchlight procession and parade has been a beloved part of past festive celebrations, and we're thrilled to announce its return this year.  

 


Join in the parade by either carrying a lit wax torch (16yrs+) or your own crafted paper lantern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 Join the Torchlight Procession at The Dundee Hooley! 
Are you ready to be a part of an enchanting spectacle that will light up the night sky?  Pre-registration is now open for the Torchlight Procession giving you the chance to shine! Hold a lit wax torch and be a beacon of light in this St Andrew’s celebration.  Only people who have pre-registered will be able to take part. 

Who Can Register?
You must be 16 years old or over to hold a lit torch.
If you're between 16 and 18 years old, you'll need an accompanying adult to hold a lit torch.
Non-torch-carrying children and companions are welcome, please let us know how many people are in your group on registering to assist us with numbers on the night.
Spaces are limited and given on a first-come-first-served basis, so be quick to register and secure your spot.  FREE to register.

 

Join us to make your own lantern for the Dundee Hooley Parade!

Prepare to ignite the night with your very own handcrafted lantern at The Dundee Hooley Lantern Making Workshops! Workshops are designed for all ages, and organised by Dundee City Council and Thingumajig Theatre, you are invited to take part in crafting your very own illuminated lantern. Whether you're an experienced artist or a complete beginner, fear not—no prior experience is necessary, and we supply all the materials you need, making it an ideal activity for absolutely everyone.

Thursday 23rd November at Dudhope Multicultural Centre

 

Thursday 23rd November at Finmill Centre

Friday 24th November at the Keiller Centre

Saturday 25th November at the Keiller Centre (drop in session, 11am-1pm no need to book)

We can't wait to see the beautiful lanterns you'll create to add to the magic of The Dundee Hooley!


The procession and parade will kick off at 5.30pm, starting from High School of Dundee, and will follow a route along Panmure Street, Murraygate, and High Street, arriving in City Square at around 5.45pm. 
Leading the way will be the Lord Provost and Pipe Band, with participants carrying illuminated torches, fire performers Pyro Celtica, Giant Puppets and lanterns by Thingumajig Theatre, the talented dancers from Dundee's Urban Moves dance company, and a grand finale featuring the Commotion Drummers Samba Band .
Once the procession has arrived and the final flourish of the drummers is done, the Ceilidh will kick off from 6-7pm to dance our socks off!

 

To stay up to date with all the events and full programme follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Return to Home Page | Return to What's on Page

Posted : 24 November 2022

A DOZEN new images of Dundee, all taken from the sky, have been unveiled at the city’s Waterfront.

The large framed pictures will brighten up the hoardings between Earl Grey Place West and Thomson Avenue on South Crichton Street into the New Year.

Mark Flynn convener of Dundee City council’s city development committee who revealed the images for the first time today (THURSDAY) said: “Our city is stunning from almost every angle, and seeing it from the air in a way that few of us gets to do adds another breath-taking perspective.

“At two metres tall and one and half metres across the scale of the images also means that as well as taking in the view, the level of detail in each one is amazing.”

Featuring the work of a pair of local photographers, Ben Hirst and Scott McBride, the exhibition has been unveiled in time for the city’s Christmas celebration, Winterfest, which will encourage visitors to the waterfront as well as other areas of the city.

Ben from Dundee who describes himself as: “A creative photographer with almost 15 years’ experience” sells his work, including images of the city, surrounding countryside of Perthshire and Angus and further afield through an on-line gallery.

Meanwhile Scott, who is also based in the city says he is: “Relatively new to photography and since picking up a camera, I have been hooked on the hobby”. He particularly enjoys taking time lapses of the local area and beyond.

Information about both, as well as the work on show, will also feature in the exhibition which will be in place until next year.

As well at the waterfront itself the aerial images also include the McManus, the Law and the Tay Road Bridge.

Posted : 17 January 2022

Condé Nast Traveller - The Scottish renaissance city

The revival of Dundee, by Danny Wallace

Dundee’s ascendance as one of the UK’s must-visit cultural destinations continues unabated after the opening of the dramatic waterside V&AScotland’s first design museum.

As for food, there's exciting Scottish cuisine by Masterchef winner Jamie Scott at waterfront restaurant The Newport, where you can see beautiful sunsets over the River Tay from its windows (and stay the night in one of its four bedrooms). For a longer stay, try the recently-opened Staybridge Suites, in a cleverly-converted former jute mill. And explore the town on one of the 300 new e-bikes which were installed across the city from July 2021 – keep an eye out for the redevelopment of West Ward Works, a print factory that made DC Thomson’s Beano and Dandy annuals, that will eventually host live performances, festivals and exhibitions, and become a base for designers, artists and other creative workers and companies. By Giovanna Dunmall

Picture by:-  ©HuftonCrow

Posted : 18 June 2019

Come and explore with us as Dundee Summer Street Festival returns in 2019!

Our theme this year is Explorations and we’ve got a myriad of ways for you to do that!

Highlights include:
•    Centrepiece Luminarium in City Square – don’t miss it!
•    Food and drink with Dundee’s Farmers’ Market
•    Fun in the Overgate 
•    Games on Reform Street
•    Explore Dundee tours and trails point in Reform Street
•    Amazing maze for wee ones in Albert Square
•    McManus Big Explore
•    Music and street theatre throughout!

Subscribe to dundee.com RSS