Scotland's book town festival bursts into life

The Wigtown Book Festival is an exciting event taking place in Scotland, and this year promises to be filled with a wide variety of activities. The festival is now in its 26th year and is located in Wigtown, which is known as Scotland's national book town. The festival will run until October 6 and features over 250 events that cater to all kinds of literary interests. People are already gathering outside the box office, and the scene is lively with a boy pushing a wheelbarrow full of books, a piper playing traditional music, a man dressed as a Roman soldier, a chef, and even a fluffy mascot. Adrian Turpin, the artistic director of the festival, expressed his hopes that this year's event would be a 'celebration of curiosity and a forum for discussion and debate. ' This means that the festival aims to inspire people to explore new ideas and engage in meaningful conversations. The festival is expected to attract around 8,000 visitors over the course of its 10-day run. Among the notable speakers this year is Dr. Fraser Hunter, who serves as the principal curator of prehistoric and Roman archaeology at the National Museums Scotland. Dr. Hunter plans to address some common misconceptions about the Roman presence in Scotland. He stated, 'We often think of their world stopping at Hadrian’s Wall – it didn’t, Scotland was in or on the edge of the Roman world. ' This highlights the fact that the Romans had a significant influence in Scotland, having invaded the region three times and entering Galloway on two occasions. Dr. Hunter also pointed out that many people have a somewhat humorous view of the Romans, imagining them as weak and shivering in the cold while facing fierce tribes. In addition to Dr. Hunter, the festival will feature a range of other guests, including the Hebridean Baker, Coinneach MacLeod, Scotland’s national chef, Gary MacLean, and former BBC Moscow correspondent Martin Sixsmith. There will also be appearances from MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin and actor James Cosmo. The Wigtown Book Festival is a wonderful opportunity for people to immerse themselves in the world of literature, meet fascinating individuals, and expand their knowledge on various topics.