Scottish Festivals

A local festival with a range of activities and musical concerts, exhibitions, craft fairs and a daily café and sporting competitions.

Edinburgh's festival season kicks off with the Meadows Festival, which offers the best local bands, dance groups, quirky performers and workshops amidst lots of family-friendly activities.

Affectionately known as 'Mo Fest', this annual event in the colourful town of Montrose offers band nights, ceilidhs, big names on stage and a campsite.

A massive celebration of the culture of traditional music and Gaelic in the Highlands of Scotland. Among the more than 100 events planned for 2013 are concerts, guided walks, a one-day literary festival, workshops, food events and film events.

MagicFest pulls another rabbit out of the hat with a progamme of close-up conundrums, mindboggling illusions, comic cabaret and other feats of the impossible. The festival begins with the Magic and Variety Gala Opening and continues to bamboozle with events and workshops.

A 16-day festival incorporating music, theatre and activities for all the family.

Annual festival of maritime heritage, including the star of the show, the Smokie Trail – around 70 stalls packed with fresh seafood along Arbroath harbour.

The most northerly music festival on mainland UK is one of the friendliest with a programme of activities for all ages, world class food suppliers and a bar stocked with care and attention.

With a spot of sea air and an entertaining line-up of music, comedy, theatre, film, authors and children’s events, North Berwick's multi-arts festival offers a respite from the madness of Edinburgh in festival season.

This year's theme is 'Glasgow, Naturally' and a packed programme of workshops, shows, films, discussion, exhibitions and art collaborations allows budding scientists to sit back and learn something new or don safety goggles and take part in an experiment.

An intimate and friendly festival that caters to Scotland's love of crime thrillers as well as introducing quirky and challenging books in a programme with something for all ages.

An outdoor festival with the emphasis on roots music, the line-up is a melting pot of world, folk, fusion and dub reggae music with electronica, hip-hop and drum & bass thrown in for good measure, both performed live and DJed. The musical programme is complemented by cabaret, spoken word, comedy and dance. First names…

The vibrant community of Leith shows off its festival skills with a fun-packed programme of events. Among the line-up of exhibitions, concerts, walks, talks and films is the anticipated Leith Festival Gala Day on Leith Links.

A ten-day music festival with 250 musicians performing in 25 venues across autumnal Perthshire. The festival, now in its ninth year, utilises venues as diverse as a tiny Ironage Crannog and the magestic Dunkeld Cathedral to present a series of afternoon and evening concerts, open mic, Cabaret Amber, workshops, talks and…

Taking over the West End of Glasgow each year, the festival treats the ears to a great musical line-up, tantalises all the senses with a carnival and delves into the creative depths of local studios and exhibitions with the Hidden Lane Festival.

Do more than listen to the stories of the bards – go on a meandering, story-filled journey of your own. Leave from Edinburgh and reach Glendale two days later, followed by a day of walks, talks and a ceilidh on Skye. Then, head back south, your lute skills now perfected (note: lute lessons not included). Led by George…

CAMRA's (The Campaign for Real Ale) most northerly annual festival is now in its 27th year and offers the chance to sample from over 100 cask ales selected from throughout the UK, real ciders and perries and a selection of continental bottled beers.

Initiated in 1987 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession and to raise funds for the refurbishment of the Victoria and Albert Halls, Ballater's Victoria Week brings together numerous sections of the community to lay on a host of fun activities for all ages.

Taking place at venues across Scotland, craft artists have made thousands of beautiful objects inspired by each venue, which will be given away for free. Many of the venues will also have events happening on the give-away day so visitors can also have a chance to make their own craft object.

The brainchild of Blazin' Fiddles, designed to immerse visitors in the music of the Highlands and Islands through concerts, sessions, talks and workshops – making this one of the finest fiddle festivals around.

Scotland's longest running dance event is held on the first Saturday in June every year and brings together 10,000 clubbers with superstar DJs. Featuring Laidback Luke, Dimitri Vegas, Sandro Silva, Bingo Players, John Callaghan, George Bowie and many more.

This year marks ten years of this local multi-arts festival. Mixing music, art, comedy, poetry and a popular carnival, the bill includes Les Mc Ewan's Legendary Bay City Rollers, Talon: The Best of the Eagles, And Finally … Phil Collins and Koda.