Our guide to the best Scottish festivals

Scotland has over 350 different annual festivals, ranging from book and film festivals to comedy and music festivals. Festivals celebrate Scottish culture, showcasing a vibrant array of talent from performers of all kinds. Below we introduce the most popular festivals in Scotland and explain why these events are not to be missed.

Edinburgh International Festival

The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts which celebrates international opera, music, theatre, film, visual arts and dance from around the world, including talks and workshops. The festival takes place in the beautiful Scottish capital of Edinburgh in August each year and runs for three weeks. The theme of the festival changes annually.

Festival events are hosted at locations all over Edinburgh in major theatre halls, concert halls and smaller venues. You can visit art exhibitions, music and theatre performances, dance performances including the Scottish ballet, and there are talks with famous poets, writers and broadcasters.

You buy tickets for each performance individually, which range in price form from being completely free up to around £20. Most tickets can be bought online, some tickets can be bought on the door and some in advance depending on the event. Under 18s and students in full time education get half price tickets on selected performances. Disabled people can buy tickets at the lowest price for that performance.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world, with over 2,400 shows on offer. Performances include comedy, dance, music, opera, theatre, exhibitions and the spoken word on stages all over Edinburgh. It was established as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival and also runs for 3 weeks every August.

Edinburgh Fringe caters for everyone but is particularly noted for its comedy and theatre, boasting everything from big names to beginner stages. Each year it hosts the best stand-up comedy newcomers’ competition with comedians battling it out to win this prestigious title. The Fringe also has children’s entertainment, including storytelling by famous authors, sing-along shows and theatre suitable for families. It includes spoken word acts, such as poetry readings and talks on various topics by celebrities and political figures. The exhibitions include art, jewellery and crafts.

You buy tickets to each individual event and prices differ, ranging from a free events to those costing around £20. Popular events need to be booked in advance. There are cheaper ticket prices for students and sometimes other concessions. You can also get discounted tickets for shows on that day and the following morning at the Half Price Hut.

Up Helly Aa Festival

The Up Helly Aa Festivals are one of Europe’s largest fire festivals and take place all over Shetland with the principal event being held in the town of Lerwick at the end of January. The tradition originated in the 1880s and includes marches, torch- lit processions through the town and burning of the galley - a boat that is made especially for the festival.

A highlight of the festival is the performances of the head Guizer Jarl and one thousand guizers (folk performers) who march through the town dressed in Viking suits of armour and various other costumes. At 7.30pm at night the guizers light up their torches and follow the galley in a procession through the town. After the procession the guizers visit twelve halls, where they perform their act until 8am the next morning. The festival is suitable for families with a junior procession as well.

The festival is free to the public but you have to apply and pay for tickets for the hall evening events through an application form.

Wickerman Festival

The Wickerman Festival is Scotland’s principal alternative music festival with a mixture of music to suit everyone. The festival is located at East Kirkcarswell, near Dundrennan in West Scotland for a weekend in July. The music includes a reggae tent, acoustic village, punk /ska and northern soul stage, a main stage with headlining acts and dance tents. There is also room for new Scottish bands to play.

This festival is suitable for families with a children’s area with storytelling, singalongs, art workshops, puppet shows, face painting and magic clowns. For the adults there is a different fancy dress theme each year, a cinema, beer tents, yoga and chi kung sessions. There are activities for the whole family, including mountain biking, team games and a rodeo bull. The festival wouldn’t be complete without lighting the 40-foot wickerman statue and having a fire display.

There are family friendly caravan camping areas, luxury camping and quiet camping areas. Children 12 years and under are free to attend. Adults will pay around £95 for a weekend ticket and £65 for a day ticket. Children between 13 and 15 years old will pay around £47.50 for a weekend ticket. Camping costs extra from £40 to pitch a tent up to £575 to hire a luxury camping tipi.

T in the Park

T in the Park is a major Scottish music festival of popular music lasting for a weekend in July. The music festival takes place in Balado, Kinkross-Shire in Scotland and welcomes more than 70,000 people each year.

The festival includes big names in the music industry, previously including Oasis, The Killers, Kings of Leon, Chase and Status and Rhianna. There is music to suit everyone, with dance tents, a main stage with headlining acts, a Radio 1 stage and a BBC introducing stage for undiscovered musicians. Other activities at the festival include a fancy dress competition, a campsite cinema screen, a silent disco and a ferris wheel.

Weekend tickets which include camping cost around £190. A day ticket costs about £80. You can get a discounted early bird tickets in advance, which knocks off about £50 off the original price. There are coaches to the festival from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Perth for about £20 return.

Scottish Festivals

Scotland definitely has a huge amount of talent to choose from and there is a festival to suit everyone. Attending a festival is a brilliant way to have fun and celebrate Scottish culture, music and art with your family and friends.