Scotland is home to many a festival. We love the opportunity to celebrate our rich history and vibrant culture. After frequenting some of the more raucous music festivals in the past, we at Nomadic Scotland now find ourselves seeking something a little bit different. Whether you’re a foodie, a music lover or a fan of quirky traditions, there is a festival here for you. Below we explore our favourite Scottish festivals and events so you can start planning your next trip!
January: Up Helly Aa – Scotland’s Viking Heritage Comes Alive
Kick off the year with Up Helly Aa, a fiery celebration of Shetland’s Viking past. There are 11 Up Helly Aas across the island of Shetland, with the most famous of these in the main town of Lerwick on the last Tuesday in January. It’s a chance for the locals to go out guising (dressing up), burning torches through the streets, setting fire to a long boat and, of course, hosting an infamous all-night party. It’s a spectacle not to be missed. The Shetland Isles themselves were once a Viking stronghold. This archipelago has a huge wealth of history and culture to discover. You’ll find world-class seafood, jaw-dropping scenery, an abundance of wildlife and there’s always the potential to see the Northern Lights, being so far north.
February: Fort William Mountain Film Festival – Adventure Awaits
Located in the outdoor capital of the UK, the Fort William Mountain Film Festival is a celebration of all things adventure. The festival runs over 4 days and has themed movie nights, secret speakers, hands-on activities and a ceilidh, that we can say from personal experience, is not to be missed. The programme is so jam-packed that there is definitely something for everyone. From high octane adrenaline adventures to family fun events. While in the area you can explore the local trails, beaches, Munros and maybe even ski. You’ve got the adventure vehicle with all the camping kit and plenty of inspiration from the festival. What’s not to love?
Spring: Loch Lomond Springfest – Foodie’s Paradise
Moving into spring, you can visit the shores of Loch Lomond and one of Scotland’s largest food and drink festivals: Springfest. One for the foodies who love to learn about the field-to-fork ethos. Embrace the beauty of one of Scotland’s national parks, while live cooking demonstrations and local producers tantalise your tastebuds. There are foraging workshops, fun activities for the kids and live entertainment. It’s free entry to the event as well. Scotland is home to some of the best produce in the world and Nomadic Scotland easily organises a great food-focused itinerary for anyone interested.
May: Fees Ile – The Islay Festival of Whisky and Music
One for the whisky lovers next. Feis Ile or The Islay Festival is a celebration of all things Islay. Spread over 10 days at the end of May, each distillery on the island hosts its own open day with guided tours, tastings and live entertainment. Many come for the whisky but come back for the island itself. A community-driven event, with each village competing in a myriad of competitions. There are walks, talks, drama and drams. Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper island festival if there wasn’t a ceilidh or three. Islay also has incredible beaches, hills to climb and woodlands to explore. With the addition of the adventure package to one of our vehicles, you can skip the problem of where to stay as your accommodation is on top of your Land Rover.
Summer: A Celebration of Music and Culture
Summer is festival season in Scotland! Highlights include:
- The Edinburgh International Festival & Fringe (August): The largest arts festival in the world. With live circus acts, orchestras, comedians, puppets, theatre, dance and so much more there is literally not enough time to see all the acts that are on offer.
- Highland Games: The games combine athleticism, music and ancient Scottish culture. Events such as the tug o’ war, tossing the caber and the Highland fling give the local clans a chance to outdo one another.
- Music Festivals: Everything from jazz, traditional Scottish folk and modern pop concerts to world pipe band competitions. Scotland is a buzz with tunes.
We’re here to keep you in the loop with what’s going on when and where across the summer.
September: Easdale’s World Stone Skimming Championship
There’s something special happening in September on the small island of Easdale. Just off the west coast of Oban, they host the World Stone Skimming Competition. Yes, it’s a niche one. However, it’s a completely innocent and incredibly fun pastime. (I have vague memories of seeing my dad bounce a stone on a loch when I was wee. It wasn’t long before I was trying to find the perfect flat circular stone and with a flick of the wrist bounce it as far as I could across the water. Three decades later I’m still trying to perfect the movement. If I ever thought I could stand amongst the giants of the stone-skimming world, the island of Easdale would be my proving ground.) It’s an open competition for anyone brave enough to enter. Leave the driving for a day, hop on the ferry to Easdale and watch as the new world champ is crowned. It could be you!
October: World Porridge Making Championship – A Taste of Tradition
Into October now and it’s all about porridge. Carrbridge is a small highland village in the Cairngorm National Park. Every year people from around the world descend upon it to try and win the golden spurtle. Competition is fierce at the World Porridge Making Championship. Open to amateurs and professionals alike. This humble dish is taken to new heights in the speciality category, where competitors’ imaginations can run wild. However, it’s the traditional porridge category where only oats, water and salt are allowed that sees the fiercest competition. It’s an absolute wonder how they manage to elevate these three ingredients to such lofty heights. Why not make the World Porridge Championships part of your trip to Scotland?
Winter: The Enchanted Forest – A Magical Finale
To round off our Scottish festival season, we have the Enchanted Forest. A spectacular immersive art experience that runs for a month through October and November. A multi-award-winning light and sound event set in Faskally Wood. Every year there’s a new theme highlighting the importance of our natural surroundings and all who call it home. In the two decades it has been operating over 800,000 people have come to the woods. We love to see families connect through nature and this is a highlight of the calendar year.
We’re so happy to be able to highlight some of Scotland’s more unique and esoteric events. Found something inspiring in this blog? Then get in touch with Nomadic Scotland. We can set you up with 4×4 vehicle hire and full camping gear, ready for your own Scottish family holiday adventure!