GaelForce is Scotland's largest community organised season of events with eight festivals and over 200 events. Cowboys, angels, divas, tenors, pilgrims and magic lobsters equals fun, entertainment and outstanding performances... that's GaelForce 2006!

The festival runs from 16 August to 29 October. International stars will join local performers to celebrate and enjoy a huge range of arts and entertainment in villages and towns across south west Scotland:

Some highlights include,

� Music Kathryn Jenkins returns to Langholm Festival to woo audiences with her stunning voice (18 August). Caledon, Scotland's Tenors will raise the roof with their own powerful sound in Langholm (26 August). The ever popular folk festival in Portpatrick (1 � 3 September) returns and Lockerbie Jazz Festival (27 � 29 October) will get your feet tapping.

� Literary Wigtown is Scotland's National Book Town and the annual book festival (22 September � 1 October) is an opportunity soak up the literary atmosphere as authors, poets and celebrities including Willy Russell, Richard Holloway and Magnus Magnusson descend on this beautiful corner of Scotland.

� Theatre Tony Roper will reminisce about the Scotch and Wry days in �Rikki and Me� (16 September) and Nicholas Parsons will present �How Pleasant to know you Mr Lear� (21 August). The National Theatre of Scotland headlines a strong theatre programme for young people. Touring companies Boilerhouse Theatre Company and Borderline Theatre will thrill audiences in Stranraer and Castle Douglas.

� Festivals Join the lasso-twirling Country folk gather in Creetown for an amazing Wild West weekend with music in a Giant Teepee, line-dancing and parades (14 � 17 September). Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities17 � 28 August) and the St Ninian Festival (18 August � 16 September) offer great family days out including a vintage car rally, a floodlit tattoo, parades, fireworks, lantern walks, medieval banquets and garden parties.

GaelForce takes place across Dumfries and Galloway showcasing the region's natural beauty and lively cultural community. GaelForce is a great festival for visitors, friends and family to come to this autumn.

The GaelForce 2006 brochure is now available, available online at www.gaelforceevents.co.uk or by calling 01387 262084 to book an autumn break in Dumfries and Galloway log onto www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk

Ends

To arrange a commissioned press trip to Gaelforce 2006 � contact Jude Henderson (Senior PR Executive � Cities and Culture, VisitScotland) on 0131 472 2014 or 07770 284 401

Notes to Editors

� VisitScotland has three key roles: to attract visitors to Scotland, to engage with partners in the industry and to add value to the visitor experience. � VisitScotland is working with the tourism industry and other partners to achieve a 50 per cent growth in tourism revenues for Scotland by 2015. � The organisation employs over 1,000 people and has 15 Network offices from London to Lerwick. � For every �1 VisitScotland spends on promotion �14.50 is generated in return on behalf of Scotland�s tourism industry. � Tourism employs 200,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The industry generates �4.4billion revenue (5 per cent of GDP). � Tourism supports around 9 per cent of employment in Scotland (13 per cent in the Highlands). � VisitScotland�s press releases can be found on www.scotexchange.net/media.asp � For holiday information on Scotland go www.visitscotland.com