Easter Egg Hunt
Plant Fair
Summer Art Competition
The Wind in the Willows
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Detailed information

Follow the garden trail to win a delicious large Easter Egg and the chance to win a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) to ‘The Wind in the Willows’ on the 15th of July in the gardens.

Plant Fair – 24th May’

Come and buy your spring plants, enjoy the dazzling floral displays and obtain expert gardening advice from many of South West Scotland’s top gardens and nurseries. The plant fair will be packed with beautiful flowers, and practical advice and tips will be on offer.

Situated in the beautiful grounds of Castle Kennedy & Gardens, visitors will also be able to enjoy the shop and tea-room which offers delicious home baking and light meals, as well as half price entry to the 75 acres of truly stunning gardens. Plant crèche, free parking, general amenities and children’s facilities will be available.

Plant Fair £1. Half price entry to the gardens £2. 10.00 am – 4.00 pm. Early viewing is recommended. The Plant Fair is one of a series organised in association with the Dumfries and Galloway Gardens and Nurseries Association.

Summer Art Competition
May – October 2009

Details of this year’s competition will follow shortly.

Last year's winning entry for the Summer Art Competition – Hannah McIntosh

Open-air Theatre Summer 2009
‘The Wind in the Willows’ by Kenneth Grahame – 6.00pm, 15th July

Wild woods, winding lanes, high jinks and increasingly ill-advised modes of transport – take a trip with Toad and chums and revel in their outlandish adventures in this inventive and effervescent tale.

The Wind in the Willows is an outstanding classic of children's literature and brought brilliantly to life by Heartbreak Productions. The famous four - Toad, Ratty, Mole and Badger - take us on a journey of mysticism, adventure, morality and camaraderie. This is a rousing adventure story, featuring our unlikely hero’s battle with the scheming stoats and wheedling weasels who attempt to take over Toad Hall.

Bright, colourful and lively, this charming and timeless story takes us back in time to an innocent and honourable world with a tale that has kept generations of children and their parents spellbound. Now, given that special Heartbreak touch, this enthralling story gets a magical makeover and the inhabitants of Wild Wood step on to the stage and into our hearts.

Live music, song, dance and inventive props cleverly create an entrancing and entertaining theatre experience for all the family.

Presented by Heartbreak Productions

Renowned for exciting and innovative productions, Heartbreak Productions has become one of the most prestigious and high quality professional, touring theatre companies in the country visiting over one hundred fabulous venues all over the UK. Operating successfully for over 15 years, last summer the company attracted audience figures of more than 40,000 for Romeo & Juliet, The Railway Children, The Importance of Being Earnest and Twelfth Night.

The work of Heartbreak Productions delivers the heart and soul of the work, creating a unique storytelling format that allows a blend of truthful, passionate acting, live music and dance and a combination of fun, humour and audience interaction!

Chapterhouse Theatre Company
‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by William Shakespeare – 6.00pm, 8th August

Chapterhouse Theatre Company presents Shakespeare's glorious romantic comedy, ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’. This magical evening is simply the best in family entertainment as flitting fairies, forest bound lovers and raucous tradesmen all join to create the perfect summer evening. With music especially written for Shakespeare's magnificent verse, lovely costumes and a splendid band of travelling players, this promises to be one of the best entertainments of the summer.

Chapterhouse Theatre Company

Chapterhouse Theatre Company is one of the most successful and acclaimed touring companies in the country. It performs in over 150 different locations around Britain and Ireland throughout their garden theatre season, together with many of the most beautiful settings, including Castle Ward, Holkham Hall, Castle Kennedy & Gardens and Picton Castle.

With a large cast, traditional costume and an original music score, the productions are highly enjoyable. The open-air theatre lends itself perfectly to pre-show picnics creating an enjoyable and memorable experience for the audience. Friends and family can join together for an evening of fun and relaxation amidst the most beautiful of surroundings and sit back to enjoy a healthy dose of escapism.

Detailed information

The grounds will be open from 4.45pm for picnics.

Tickets are priced at:
In advance: adults £10, students and children £6, families (2 adults and 2 children) £25
On the night: adults £12, students and children £8, families (2 adults & 2 children) £32

For the box office phone Castle Kennedy & Gardens on 01581 400 225

There will be light refreshments available, free parking, toilets and baby changing facilities.
Please come suitably dressed for the weather, and bring insect repellent.
Please also bring your own rugs or low backed seating and torches.

Castle Kennedy & Gardens are situated 3 miles east of Stranraer on the A75.

If you would like any further information regarding tickets for competitions and press reviews, interviews with directors/actors please contact Muriel McCrone at Stair Estates on 01776 702 024 or info@castlekennedygardens.co.uk.

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