Some of the best trails riders in the UK will be doing a dare devil display, local accommodation providers and the mountain bike business network will be onsite for further information about world class mountain bike trails in Dumfries & Galloway.

The Children's Area of the Wickerman is run by Galloway Children's Festivals, a charitable organisation that runs events for children across Dumfries and Galloway. The area is devoted to storytelling, music, puppetry, magic and workshops; performances run non-stop from midday until five o' clock. There are also art workshops, puppet-making, circus skills, face painting and a bouncy castle just for the wee ones. Many parents describe the area as a life-saver and a respite. It also means that if the children get their share of the fun they are more inclined to give parents their time too.

For Wickerman novices you may not realise that we have our very own water powered bovine on site.

Brit the "urinating cow" is a mechanical contraption which is heiferesque in appearance and hides an experimental ram pump in below.

Brit stands for Bovine Robotic Irreverent Tomfoolery and has entertained kids for the past four years with her gravity inspired nodding antics and was designed by neighbouring farmer John Higgs.

The burning of the Wickerman and Friday night fire display will be presented again this year by Liquid Flame, bringing you an exciting fire twirling feast on Friday night, 10pm, followed by the festivals key ritual of the Wickerman burning at midnight on Saturday.

Liquid Flame is this year coordinated by Thomas Simmonds and Katharine Wheeler.

Those magical willow weavers Trevor Leat and Alex Rigg have made the giant wicker effigy for the festival since its inception in 2002.

The figures are a staggering nine metres tall and make an excellent finale to a weekend of fiery frolicks.  Wickerman 2008 will see another of these unique creations go up in smoke.

Visit their website for full details:

www.leatrigg.co.uk  

Apart from grooving at the Wickerman, the coolest activity in the South of Scotland has got to be riding the 7stanes mountain bike trails. Billed as "Scotland's biking heaven", the 7stanes offer a unique experience to novices and experts alike. Single track, berms, cross country, gnarly and North shore are just some of the intriguing terms associated with this growing sport.

We are currently working with our friends at the 7stanes to offer you mountain bike taster sessions run by leading experts, to put together a skills display team and last but not least a mountain bike/Wickerman holiday and accommodation package for those wishing to make more than just a weekend of it.

Keep cycling back for more details and in the meantime check out the 7stanes site on www.7stanes.gov.uk

The surreal spectacle of hundreds of people dancing in complete silence whilst wearing giant space age headphones will be coming to the Wickerman in 2008.

Headphone disco gives you the chance to freak freely secure in the knowledge that any spectators will not have a clue about what you are dancing to.

Scout for more info on www.headphonedisco.com