Scotland's Great Festivals
Scotland has more Great Festivals than you can possibly imagine !!!
Whisky Festivals - Beer Festivals - Music Festivals
The choice is very large and incredibly varied. See below a selection of the festivals Scotland has to offer :
Whisky Festivals
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival – 3rd to 7th May 2012. This is a great festival with lots to do and see, too much to list here. Please check www.spiritofspeyside.com for details.
The Spirit of Stirling Whisky Festival - May 12th 2012. This is held at the Albert Hall in Stirling and will include two master classes. Please check www.Spiritofstirlingwhiskyfestival.co.uk for details.
Islay Malt and Music festival– 25th May till 3rd June 2012. This festival was started by the islanders in 1986 and has been developing ever since. From the year 2000 the festival has been run in conjunction with the distilleries of Islay, Jura and the Port Ellen Maltings. For details check out www.islayinfo.com and go to Islay events.
Whisky An' A' That VII – Sat 9th June 2012 - Tickets now on sale. This will take place in Ayr Town Hall. There are 18 major whisky companies exhibiting, with over 150 whiskies on show. Check www.robbiesdrams.com for details + tickets.
Whisky Fringe – 5th, 6th and 7th August 2011 NOW SOLD OUT. This takes place during the Edinburgh Festival and is based at the bottom of Broughton Street. Check www.royalmilewhiskies.com for details.
Auchentoshan Whisky Festival - 2011 is cancelled.
Inverness Whisky Festival - 6th to the 8th April 2012. For more information check the web site. www.InvernessWhiskyFestival.co.uk
Glasgow's Whisky Festival – Sat 17th Nov. 2012 at the Arches. This is organised by Mark Connelly of whiskywhiskywhiskey.com and Bill MacKintosh, chairman of Glasgow’s Whisky Club. Some of the biggest and smallest names in the whisky industry will be there. Check www.glasgowwhiskyfestival.com for details.
Auchentoshan Whisky Festival - 2011 is cancelled.
Inverness Whisky Festival - 6th to the 8th April 2012. For more information check the web site. www.InvernessWhiskyFestival.co.uk
Glasgow's Whisky Festival – Sat 17th Nov. 2012 at the Arches. This is organised by Mark Connelly of whiskywhiskywhiskey.com and Bill MacKintosh, chairman of Glasgow’s Whisky Club. Some of the biggest and smallest names in the whisky industry will be there. Check www.glasgowwhiskyfestival.com for details.
Beer Festivals
Larbert Beer Festival – 30th & 31st March 2012 - This is run by CAMRA Volunteers. Please check the CAMRA web site for further details.
Paisley Beer Festival – April 2011 - This is run by the Renfrewshire branch of CAMRA. Please check the CAMRA web site for further details. I went to the 24th annual Paisley Beer festival on 30/04/11 and took some film - Check out my blog, A View From the Bar, it is in the start of the May 2011 blog entry.
12th Kingdom of Fife Beer Festival – Rothes Halls, Glenrothes. This takes place on 28th April to 30th April 2011. Please check the CAMRA web site for further details.
Thistly Cross Beer Festival – 3rd & 4th June 2011. This will take place at the Belhaven Fruit Farm, Dunbar East Lothian, EH42 1RG. There is a lot going on at this festival with tastings and lots of live music. Check out www.thistlycrosscider.co.uk for further details.
Williams Brothers Beer Festival – Alloa Town Hall, Marshill, Alloa, FK10 1AB – 8th May 2010 - Don't Know if this is on this year
Paisley Beer Festival – April 2011 - This is run by the Renfrewshire branch of CAMRA. Please check the CAMRA web site for further details. I went to the 24th annual Paisley Beer festival on 30/04/11 and took some film - Check out my blog, A View From the Bar, it is in the start of the May 2011 blog entry.
12th Kingdom of Fife Beer Festival – Rothes Halls, Glenrothes. This takes place on 28th April to 30th April 2011. Please check the CAMRA web site for further details.
Thistly Cross Beer Festival – 3rd & 4th June 2011. This will take place at the Belhaven Fruit Farm, Dunbar East Lothian, EH42 1RG. There is a lot going on at this festival with tastings and lots of live music. Check out www.thistlycrosscider.co.uk for further details.
Williams Brothers Beer Festival – Alloa Town Hall, Marshill, Alloa, FK10 1AB – 8th May 2010 - Don't Know if this is on this year
Scottish Real Ale Festival – Edinburgh Corn Exchange 28th to 30th June 2012 – www.ScottishRealAleFestival.org.uk This is an great festival which is not to be missed ! - Organised by CAMRA.
Helensburgh and Lomond Real Ale Festival – 20th & 21st May. There is a lot going on at this festival ! Check out www.helensburghalefestival.co.uk for details.
Aberdeen Beer Festival – 31st May - 2nd June 2012– Pittodrie Stadium. see www.aberdeencamra.co.uk for details.
Dumfries folk & Ale Festival - This is held at various pubs in the town of Dumfries on the 15th & 16th of July 2011 and is organised by CAMRA.
Stranraer Beer Festival – 25th to the 27th June.
Helensburgh and Lomond Real Ale Festival – 20th & 21st May. There is a lot going on at this festival ! Check out www.helensburghalefestival.co.uk for details.
Aberdeen Beer Festival – 31st May - 2nd June 2012– Pittodrie Stadium. see www.aberdeencamra.co.uk for details.
Dumfries folk & Ale Festival - This is held at various pubs in the town of Dumfries on the 15th & 16th of July 2011 and is organised by CAMRA.
Stranraer Beer Festival – 25th to the 27th June.
Trossachs Beer Festival – 26th Aug to 4th September – The Lade Inn
The Loch Ness Beer Festival – 16th to 24th September - check out www.benleva.co.uk for details
Ayrshire Beer Festival Troon Concert Hall 6th to 8th October 2011. check www.ayrshirebeerfestival.co.uk for details
Oktoberfest 14th to 29th October 2011 – Clachaig Inn, Glencoe. What could be more Scottish than enjoying a great ale in the beautiful surroundings of Glencoe ? Check out www.Clachaig.com for details.
Stonehaven Real Ale Festival - 3rd to the 5th November 2011, Stonehaven Town Hall. Well worth a visit ! Check out www.stonehavenrealalefestival.co.uk for details.
The Loch Ness Beer Festival – 16th to 24th September - check out www.benleva.co.uk for details
Ayrshire Beer Festival Troon Concert Hall 6th to 8th October 2011. check www.ayrshirebeerfestival.co.uk for details
Oktoberfest 14th to 29th October 2011 – Clachaig Inn, Glencoe. What could be more Scottish than enjoying a great ale in the beautiful surroundings of Glencoe ? Check out www.Clachaig.com for details.
Stonehaven Real Ale Festival - 3rd to the 5th November 2011, Stonehaven Town Hall. Well worth a visit ! Check out www.stonehavenrealalefestival.co.uk for details.
More Festivals
Edinburgh's Hogmany
Now entering its 19th year, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay promises to welcome 2012 in style with a packed programme of events throughout the festival.
The world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party welcomes over 80,000 people from across the globe to party at the ‘Home of Hogmanay’, featuring live music stages, incredible bands and DJs, giant screens and the spectacular Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks, when over 4.5 tonnes of fireworks light up the Edinburgh sky in one of the world’s largest New Year displays.
The Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party also features ticketed music events including the flagship 'Concert in the Gardens', set beneath the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Previous headliners include: Kasabian, Madness, Groove Armada, Scissor Sisters, Blondie, KT Tunstall and Calvin Harris.
www.EdinburghsHogmany.com
Edinburgh International Festival
9th August - 2nd September 2012
This is a huge festival !!! There is a whole lot going on here from the Book festival to Opera, Comedy to Street theatre, Music to Films, Talks, Workshops, etc, etc ...
Please check out the Web site for details. www.eif.co.uk
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is widely acknowledged to be the biggest arts festival in the world and takes place every August for three weeks in Scotland’s capital city.
Every year thousands of performers take to a multitude of stages all over Edinburgh to present shows for every taste. From big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival caters for everyone and includes theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, musicals, operas, music, exhibitions and events.
Check out their web site for details. www.EdFringe.com 5th - 29th August 2011
