Festivals across Scotland

Throughout summer, festivals are underway across Scotland. As well as the massive international festivals held in Edinburgh, there are loads of community, music and arts festivals happening across the nation. See below for highlights this summer.   

Indeed, throughout the year there have been many fantastic festivals including St Magnus festival, Glasgow Jazz festival and the Bank of Scotland Children's festival to mention a few (read about the many festivals that have featured over the past year).   As festival fever builds throughout the summer it doesn't end there.  You can also look forward to many more across Scotland including Crail festival, Brechin Arts festival and Glasgay!  Check out the festivals sneak peek below.

The Scottish Arts Council supports festivals because they bring high quality work to audiences across the country.   As well as encouraging excellence and innovation, festivals also importantly promote artists to local communities to foster tourism and boost local economies.

Check out the festivals diary page for details on festival dates and locations plus links to websites for more.

Highlights - summer festivals across Scotland
Future festivals - a sneak peek

Summer highlights across Scotland 2005

Edinbane Festival	In its fifth year, this unique festival takes place in the north of Isle of Skye and artists include: Shooglenifty The Ruffness Orchestra Maroon John McSherry's 'At first light' and many more (Education: craft workshops to prepare for the parade - mask making with Ruffled Feathers on Saturday morning at the village hall) Edinbane, Isle of Skye	1 - 2 July 2005
Aboyne and Deeside Festival	Each July Aboyne hosts an outstanding festival of the arts and music.  Among this year's (2005) highlights are talks by politician James Naughtie and Joan Bakewell. Leland Chen (violin) gives another concert and a violin workshop. There is an evening with Buff Hardy and George Donald and a screening of the film 'Finding Neverland'. (Education: 18 July - 21 July: Violin workshop; 19 - 20 July: Photography workshop) Aboyne	1-31 July 2005
Hebridean Celtic Festival	A unique four-day musical celebration held in the stunning Hebrides of Scotland. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, performances include: Van Morrison Runrig Shooglenifty Peatbog Faeries and Seamus Begley (Education: Various art and theatre workshop plus Young Musicians Hebrides summer school) Various venues in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis	13 - 16 July 2005
Feis an Eilein	The fourteenth Fèis an Eilein, a wonderful 12-day feast of music, song, dance, storytelling, theatre and film from the best in Gaelic traditions and beyond.  Read our feature for more.  (Education: various workshops in dance, music, art, writing and the gaelic language - every day except Sunday) Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and other venues near Armadale, Isle of Skye.	12 - 23 July 2005
Stonehaven Folk Festival	In its 17th year, the festival features local and established musicians.  Ceilidhs, workshops and competitions also take place over the festival.  Performances include: Old Rope String band Johnny Silvo Mike Whellans Blazin Fiddles (Education: various workshops) Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire	14 - 17 July 2005
Bute Live Music and Arts Festival	A festival with live performances of music and the arts.  Performances include: Michael Marra Liz Lochead Danssa Carol Kidd and Findlay MacDonald (Education: 16 July: Tall tales and Tapestries - a mix of storytelling and visual arts for children - hands on experience) Isle of Bute	15 - 18 July 2005
Crail Festival	This festival is a mix of music, arts and crafts that caters all tastes and ages. Crail, East Neuk in Fife	21 - 30 July 2005
The Hairst	The Hairst - an annual celebration of Scottish traditional music, dance and theatre held in Angus. The Hairst comes from the old Scots dialect for the harvest - a traditional time of feasting and celebration in farming communities throughout Scotland. (Education: 30 July - Playing for Scottish Dance workshop; 5 - 8 August: African Drum Village) Angus	22 July - 14 August 2005
Dundee Guitar Festival	Scotland's premier guitar event with concerts, courses, guest artists and a contemporary styles long weekend.  This year will also see Scotland's first International Guitar Composition competition for young composers:  As well as many of UK's premier guitarists, the festival will also feature: The Scottish debut of the Paraguayan virtuoso Berta Rojas The flamenco genius Gerardo Nunez Czech legend Pavel Steidl (Education: Courses available covering different guitar styles, master classes and individual lessons) Various venues in Dundee	20 - 24 July 2005
Lomond Folk Festival	Featuring a host of community events and concerts.  A variety of traditional music performances, ceilidhs, street entertainers, competitions and workshops. (Education: Free music workshops on Saturday and Sunday - mandolin, bodhran, fiddle, guitar, whistle) Balloch, Loch Lomond	29 - 31 July 2005
Greater Easterhouse festival day	A community festival of visual arts, music and drama involving children, young people and families, this year the festival has a Magic, Myths and Legends theme. Easterhouse, Glasgow	31 July 2005
Common Ground Festival weekend	The final event of the Common Ground Traditional Music and Arts Summer School.  The 2005 festival has a strong Scottish flavour but doesn't focus exclusively on Scottish Traditional Music. Auchincruive, near Ayr	5 - 7 August 2005
Auchtermuchty Festival	A traditional music weekend featuring ceilidhs, dances, open air music and pub gatherings.  there is a strong community involvement in the 10 day celebrations Auchtermuchty in Fife	5 - 14 August 2005
Nairn International Jazz Festival	Featuring a line up of some of the world's greatest names in jazz.  Performers include Duke Heitger, John Sheridan, Nick Payton, Niki Harris and many more. In and around Nairn, Highlands Tel: 01309 674221	7 - 13 August 2005
Glasgow International Piping Festival - Piping Live	Featuring some of the biggest names in piping, Piping Live! will build on last year's festival which brought 600 pipers and 10,000 visitors from across the globe.  Performers include: Allan MacDonald National Youth Pipe Band Findlay MacDonald Band Na Tri Seudan Fred Morrison and more (Education: daily workshops Come and Try sessions) Glasgow	8 - 14 August 2005
Gaelforce	Dumfries and Galloway will be celebrating the summer with its Gaelforce festival.  The festival includes art exhibitions, concerts and educational programmes and held throughout Dumfries and Galloway from August to October. Various venues Dumfries and Galloway	19 August - 30 October 2005
St Ninians festival	A week of events in celebration of Scotland’s first saint, with music, drama and visual arts - events for all ages.  Highlights: A new play about the building of Mulberry Harbours in Garlieston during WWII and a Medieval meets Mardi Gras Parade. Whithorn	22 - 28 August 2005

Future festival sneak peek 2005

Edinburgh Mela	Edinburgh Mela is Scotland’s biggest intercultural festival and was founded in 1995 by members of Edinburgh's communities from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. It features musicians, dancers, crafts, fashion, food, and children’s activities. The Mela is a great family event. Edinburgh	3 and 4 September 2005 (TBC)
Brechin Arts Festival	This year's Arts Festival theme is 'Vision, Passion and Sound'. An exciting variety of art exhibitions,classical music, folk and jazz, poetry readings, demonstrations and craft displays in Brechin.	10 September - 18 September 2005
Doric Festival	Scottish traditional music festival Tel/Fax 01771 653320	1 - 17 October 2005
Scottish International Storytelling festival	This year's Festival will take on a Middle Eastern flavour with Scottish seasonings and National Tell A Story Day is on Friday 28th October.	21 - 30 October 2005
Glasgay!	Glasgay is the largest multi-artform festival of its kind in the UK.  Glasgay is not just for gay people, it’s for everyone. It’s a chance for everyone to embrace diversity, to promote tolerance and understanding of gay people as positive role models, and to celebrate queer culture.	1 - 20 November  2005