A festival celebrating Dundee and its twin cities is coming to City Square next month
- Andrew Batchelor
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
A festival celebrating Dundee’s international friendships and twin cities is coming to City Square next month.
The special Twinning Fair will take place on Saturday, September 5 from 11am until 2pm, bringing Dundee’s different twinning associations together for an afternoon of entertainment and activities.
The event forms part of a weekend of celebrations marking a major milestone for one of Dundee’s oldest international friendships – the 80th anniversary of the city’s twinning with Orléans in France.
Visitors from Orléans will travel to Dundee for the anniversary weekend, which runs from September 4 to 6.
Members of the Orléans Rotary Club have also been invited by Dundee Rotary Club, with visitors set to experience a programme including a walk through Dundee’s historic waterfront and a trip to the Blairgowrie Highland Games.
A formal civic reception and ceilidh will also form part of the celebrations.
Twin cities take over City Square
Saturday’s Twinning Fair will put Dundee’s international connections centre stage, with each of the participating twinning associations showcasing their past and present activities as well as plans for the future.
Entertainment will include performances from Dundee City Pipe Band and the Gaelic Choir, among others.
There will also be activities for children including quizzes, colouring and stone painting, while the Nablus Twinning Association will have Palestinian items available to buy.
Dundee has established links with communities around the world over the decades, with twinning providing opportunities for cultural, educational, social and economic connections.
The movement grew significantly following the Second World War as towns and cities sought to rebuild relationships and encourage friendship between communities which had previously found themselves on opposing sides.
Dundee’s relationship with Orléans dates back to 1946, making 2026 its 80th anniversary.
Eight decades later, the upcoming celebrations will recognise that historic friendship while also shining a spotlight on Dundee’s wider network of international connections.
The Twinning Fair takes place in City Square from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, September 5.
