Scotland’s festive celebrations start next week with St Andrew’s Day (November 30) which remembers Scotland’s patron saint and carry on through Christmas and Hogmanay to mid-January.
Find out more about the events taking place across Scotland in our guide to the best of Scotland’s festive celebrations.
The Saltire Festival
East Lothian
November 24 – 30, 2016
The Saltire Festival celebrates St Andrew’s Day and the Home of the Flag with food and drink and the best of Scottish entertainment. Look out for the #SaltireBlue tour for iconic buildings lit up in blue and the Kelpie Maquettes, which will be hosted at Musselburgh Racecourse throughout the Festival.
St Andrew’s Day in St Andrews
St Andrews, Fife
November 25 – 30, 2016
The St Andrew’s Day celebrations in St Andrews feature a packed programme of music, talks, food and drink. And how about taking part in the record-breaking world’s largest St Andrew’s Day ceilidh.
St Andrew’s Day Fusion Festival
Dundee
November 26, 2016
The St Andrew’s Day Fusion Festival links Scotland’s communities by fusing combining different styles of music and dance. The festival will include a ceilidh band, piper, Bollywood dancing, sitar and African drumming and special workshops in the Marryat Hall.
Glasgow’s St Andrew’s Day Torchlight Parade
Glasgow
November 26, 2016
Glasgow’s St Andrew’s Day Torchlight Parade is for all the family and takes place in Glasgow’s west end, from Kelvingrove Park to the Riverside Museum. The event culminates with a bonfire of the torches and fireworks display over the river.
Illumination: Harbour Festival of Light
Irvine, North Ayrshire
November 30 to December 3, 2016
Fireworks and on Irvine’s historic waterfront will start a four-day art and light spectacular of Illumination: Harbour Festival of Light, which will also mark Scotland’s 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design. Discover hundreds of brightly coloured origami boats and butterflies hand-crafted by international artists Aether & Hemera on the free illumination Trail along the River
Edinburgh’s Christmas
November 18 – January 7
Edinburgh’s Christmas offers two festive markets: The European Christmas Market in East Princes St Gardens, opening November 19 and the Scottish Market at George Street, open from November 26.
The Street of Light returns this year, illuminating George Street in a canopy of light synchronised to music. This year’s theatre programme will be played out in the new Festival Square Theatre,.
Glasgow Loves Christmas
November 13 to January 17
Glasgow Loves Christmas offers a range of events, shopping and festive fun in the heart of the city. There’s a Christmas Market in St Enoch Square and a Santa Dash.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay
December 30 to January 1
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is Scotland’s world-famous New Year festival. There’s a Torchlight Procession through Edinburgh’s Old Town on December 30 before the famous Hogmanay street party and a spectacular fireworks display on December 31. You can hear headliner Paulo Nutini at the Concert in the Gardens on New Year’s Eve too. On New Year’s Day brave swimmers take a dip in the Firth of Forth during the annual Loony Dook.
Stirling Winter Festival
November 20 to December 31, 2016
Stirling Winter Festival offers a host of great events taking place over the St Andrew’s Day weekend, including artist-led creative workshops throughout December and a carnival of light and sound at Hogmanay.
Book a campervan or motorhome for a more convenint place to stay during the festivities.