3 festival TipLists to kickstart your summer
Eager to festival but struggling to know where to start? Our TipLists select some festivals and events worth knowing about in a few different themes and categories. They’re just a taster of what’s available right through the year and across the length and breadth of Scotland
Family Festivals
Partying with your kids? Kick off summer with a festival designed specifically for young families. Wildhood Festival (5–7 June) takes over Tullibole Castle near Kinross, spread across 30 acres of parkland and ancient woodland. Expect relaxed camping, wanders in the woods and a generous programme of workshops and creative activities for all ages. Eden Festival (11–14 June) caters for all ages, with plenty for families across its wide-ranging programme. With 250 acts over 10 stages, spanning music, cabaret, comedy and children’s events, the hardest part will be deciding where to be next.
Under 12s go free at Solas Festival (19–21 June), a midsummer celebration of arts, music and ideas in Perthshire. Children can join interactive workshops from Lego challenges and den building to yoga and dance, and enjoy a packed programme of music, storytelling, theatre and magic. Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival (30 July–1 August, pictured above) is famously welcoming to families. This year’s line-up includes The Human League, James and Scouting For Girls. Family camping keeps evenings calmer, while a dedicated kids’ area offers storytelling circles, arts and crafts, hopscotch, giant bubbles and puppet-style theatre.
Festival magic comes easily at Kelburn Garden Party (2–6 July), set in the lush grounds of Kelburn Castle. Families can lose themselves in the Neverending Glen art trail, discovering hidden stages, music and surprises along the way. Over the same weekend, Womad Scotland (3 & 4 July) makes its debut in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park. With music from around the world, dance and family-friendly events, it looks like a brilliant option if camping isn’t your jam. (Ailsa Sheldon)
Island Festivals
Get beyond the central belt with our pick of Scotland’s more far-flung festivals, and keep in mind that the journey is all part of the adventure. HebCelt, on Lewis, continues to go from strength to strength. Based around Stornoway, this year’s festival (15–18 July) features Peatbog Faeries, Mànran and The Saw Doctors.
Mull Music Festival (23–26 April) and Tiree Music Festival (10–12 July) offer more intimate experiences, ideal for combining island exploration with music, culture and plenty of craic. Smaller still is the Sound Of Iona Festival (17 & 18 July), a wee gem of a festival that’s well worth the two ferries you’ll need to get there. Or why not head even further north for the epic hoolie that is Shetland Folk Festival (30 April–3 May)? Expect to dart between villages, hopping on and off ferries, all soundtracked by some of the best traditional music from Scotland and around the world.
On Islay, Fèis Ìle (22–31 May) adds whisky into the mix, with ceilidhs and tastings galore. Elsewhere, Orkney Nature Festival (11–17 May) shifts the focus to wildlife and the natural world, while Arran Mountain Festival (15–18 May) celebrates mountain culture through guided hikes, talks and workshops. Later in the year, the Festival Of Small Halls brings music, community and culture to village halls across Skye, Raasay and Lochalsh. It usually takes place in the last week of November, with details announced closer to the time, and year-round programming worth seeking out too. (Ailsa Sheldon)
Participatory Festivals
While the best part of a festival can be sitting back and watching your favourite artists at work, sometimes you might have a hankering to get involved yourself. A number of Scottish festivals give you the chance to be more hands-on, whether you’re keen to consolidate a skill, meet like-minded creatives or explore a new hobby. These are just a few of them:
- For dance aficionados, Paisley International Tango Festival (25–27 September) offers a weekend of all things Argentine tango. Expect social dance milongas, workshops and professional performances.
- Late autumn brings some of the world’s finest fiddlers to Edinburgh. The Scots Fiddle Festival (20–22 November) celebrates its 30th birthday this year. Three days of workshops catering to fiddlers at all levels alternate with virtuoso concerts and fun open sessions.
- Women and non-binary filmmakers can step behind the camera at the Sea Change Film Festival (18–20 September) on the island of Tiree. As well as screenings and industry talks, the festival offers workshops on various aspects of filmmaking, from idea development to animation.
- If you want to have a go at cold-smoking or learn how to tell ceps from chanterelles, the Scottish Wild Food Festival (19 & 20 September) has you covered. The programme includes a range of foraging walks and wild -cooking workshops, including a plentiful selection that are free.
- And in Aberdeen young people get stuck into helming the whole festival at WayWORD (3–11 October). Much of the literary-themed programme is interactive, including poetry workshops and walking tours. (Lucy Ribchester)
This article is featured in The Guide To Scotland’s Festivals, our comprehensive guide to help you plan your cultural year. Find print editions of The Guide To Scotland’s Festivals at all good stockists across Scotland, or read it in full online.