Edinburgh International Festival & Fringe and Scottish Festivals

Edinburgh Festivals - Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Fringe

If there's a home to Scottish festivals then Edinburgh is it. Not just the world renowned Edinburgh International Festival held annually through August into the beginning of September which brings together a number of themed festivals under one roof, but throughout the year a host of other festivals take place in Edinburgh including Edinburgh's famous Hogmanay, the Royal Highland Show and the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

August is the busiest festival month on the Edinburgh Festival calendar, with festival events stretching into early September too. A number of festivals run consecutively during August - its grown big over the years. All the August Edinburgh Festivals fall under the umbrella of the Edinburgh International Festival, Themes include books, films, the arts, politics, the Edinburgh Mela, fireworks and concerts, the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo and plenty of music particularly jazz. Other lively festival periods on the Edinburgh Festival map include Springtime when Ednburgh sees Ceilidh Culture come alive alongside the increasingly popular Science Festival. Winter Festival choice in Edinburgh couldn't be better too, with Edinburgh's world famous New Year Hogmanay celebrations and a variety of festival events running through the Christmas period.

As a Festival city, Edinburgh is probably one of the best in Europe! Check the Edinburgh Festival weblinks right for forthcoming programmes and ticket buying online.

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Glasgow Festivals - Glasgow River Festival on the Clyde

Glasgow has a choice of festivals running through the year, with some new ones recently emerging connected to the Clyde River.

Glasgow's festival choice includes the annual Glasgow Jazz Festival, Glasgow Film Festival, Glasgow Mela, Glasgay - a celebration of gay culture, Glasgow Comedy Festival, Glasgow West End Festival, Celtic Connections - with Celtic music and folk, Glasgow Arts Fair, and Glasgow Piping Festival (Scotland's big piping centre is based in Glasgow).

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City of Inverness Tattoo, Highland Games

On the west side of the River Ness in Inverness just south of the Eden Court Theatre is Bught Park, the venue for the City of Inverness Highland Games held annually in July. This is one of the largest Highland Games in North Scotland. Events include Highland piping and dancing and a range of athletic events including the heavy athletics like tossing the caber, Scots hammer and shott putt. Check the weblink right for more information on past events and the history of Highland Games. You can also buy tickets via the website nearer the time of each year's Games.

Inverness also hosts its own Highland Tattoo. This is a full-scale international military tattoo and has been held at The Northern Meeting Park in Inverness or at Fort George, 11 miles north east of the city centre, about a twenty minute drive.

Inverness Highland Tattoo has been going for 56 years and attracts participants from around the world. Sea cadet, Army and Air Training Corps along with Scottish Regiments are accompanied by display teams and marching bands for a colourful and rousing display. Check the weblink right for information on the last tattoo and information on next year's nearer the time.

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Up Helly AA - Shetland Islands

The last Tuesday of January sees one of the biggest celebrations in the Shetland calendar. Up Helly Aa fire festival, the largest in Europe, is believed to date back to pagan Norse rituals at the cremation of great chieftans and to mark the return of the sun after the winter solstice.

These days it is planned in secret throughout the year by hundreds of locals to celebrate Shetland history and its inhabitants' skills and spirit. Much of what takes place on the night is based around a flame-lit procession through the streets of Lerwick by heavily disguised locals with different elements of the ritual heralded by rockets exploding overhead, a Viking long ship being dragged through the streets to the shore, culminating in the torching of the long ship when it's pushed out to sea.

Parties go on through the night where squads perform acts at every hall, dance with at least one woman at each hall, down a dram and snatch some mutton soup and bannocks. This goes on throughout the night so don't expect any sleep. The next day is wisely a public holiday! It's one of the busiest times of the year so book your accommodation early if you're planning to visit.

Shetland Music, Folk & Fiddle Festivals

Music is at the heart of Shetland social life particularly fiddle based music, some of which stem from Norwegian roots. Festivals and events on Shetland reflect its importance and the richness of local talent. Shetland Folk Festival is highly regarded as being one of the must-see festivals and it's certainly the most northerly folk festival in the UK. It's been going since 1981 and was organised to celebrate Shetland's own unique fiddle tradition and rich musical heritage. It has grown over the years and includes formal and informal concerts, workshops and sessions going on into the night showcasing artists from the Shetlands as well as visiting performers. It is usually held in the first week of May of each year and remarkably it's largely organised by volunteers and is non-profit making event. Check the Shetland Folk Festival link right for up-to-date information on the forthcoming Festival. It seems sleep is not an option!

Throughout the year there are other festivals including the annual Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival. This usually takes place over four days in mid-October and showcases musicians from all over the world with the emphasis on traditional Scottish Dance music. Venues are dotted all over the Mainland with its finale being the Grand Dance where a host of bands play for a huge audience taking part in one of the biggest traditional dances to anywhere in the UK. Weblink right for more information.

Shetland's Fiddle Frenzy is another celebration of one of the islands traditional instruments. It's aimed at highlighting the talent and culture of Shetland fiddle based music while offering opportunities for students and visitors from all over the world to learn how to play or refine their skills with some of the top fiddle players and teachers. The remit of the Frenzy also brings in other aspects of Shetland culture such as storytelling, fiddle making, traditional dance, local crafts and trips on a Viking long ship. Weblink right for more information.

An up and coming festival is the Guitar Festival which has only been going since 2005. It started in honour of "Peerie" Willie Johnson, an internationally renowned Shetland musician. It covers all aspects of guitar. Contact Shetland Arts on 01595 743843 for more information.

St Magnus Festival Kirkwall Orkney Islands

St Magnus Festival, Magfest for short, is a celebration of the arts that is hosted on Mainland between a variety of venues in Kirkwall and Stromness. A selection of visiting artists also tour the Outer Orkney Islands to give performances and hold workshops for the schools and communities there.

It is an important event in the Orkney calendar when people flock to the islands to take part or listen to the many orchestras and composers that make up a full and varied programme. Accommodation is scarce during the festival with many people booking well in advance.

Tickets are available from St Magnus Festival Box Office, 60 Victoria Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1DN. Tel: 01856 871445. Fax: 01856 871170 or in person from the Box Office. Check the website, link right, for up-to-date information.

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