Make the most of the winter festivals and other winter-time celebrations by booking a campervan or motorhome during the quieter season and taking a road trip around Scotland.
Festive celebrations
Glasgow Loves Christmas
Until mid-January
After the big lights switch on in November the city centre Glasgow gets into the swing of the festive celebrates until mid January. There’s an ice rink, a Santa Dash, concerts, the Irn Bru Carnival and the Hogmanay bash on New Year’s Eve. Glasgow Loves Christmas
And don’t miss the Glasgow Christmas Continental Market.
Edinburgh’s Christmas
Until Jan 4
Scotland’s capital city hosts weeks of festive shows, rides, markets, ice-skating, Santa Land, parties and much more entertainment. Edinburgh also hosts its own Hogmanay celebration on December 31.
Aberdeen’s Winter Festival
Until January
The Scottish city of Aberdeen embraces a winter-long event from November to January, including such as pantos, ice skating, markets, Christmas lights and Hogmanay celebrations.
Winter Wonderland Inverness
December 12 to 14, 2014
Cartoon characters, Santa and fairground attractions are the focus of this family-friendly city festival.
Hogmanay celebrations…
On December 31, 2104
Stirling’s Hogmanay
One of Scotland’s biggest Hogmanay events, it features the best of Scottish music and a fantastic fireworks display at Stirling Castle to welcome in the New Year.
Red Hot Highland Fling
Inverness
Join The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, award winning traditional and contemporary band Manran and the Julie Fowlis Band, as well as host Craig Hill to welcome in the New Year in the Highland capital. This is a welcoming and family-friendly outdoor concert on the banks of the River Ness. Don’t miss The Wee Hot Highland Fling Family Festival earlier in the day for younger members of the family.
Hogmanay Celebrations in the Honest Toun
Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh
An exciting programme of family focused activities including storytelling, a Samba drumming workshop, traditional dancing and lantern making, which all leads up to a celebratory lantern parade and fireworks display in the early evening.
Ceilidh Festival, An Lanntair
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
An Lanntair’s Hogmanay Festival celebrates and showcases local artists, featuring a family ceilidh.
Other winter events…
Haggis Beasts and Tatties
Eden Court, Inverness – January 25, 2015
The Burns’ Night extravaganza in Falcon Square includes a Haggis Hoedown, led by scores of dancing haggis and a pipe band, a procession to Eden Court Theatre for a building full of bite-size performances inspired by the Beasts of Burns’ poetry. The night will close with the Tattie Band at Eden Court’s Grand Burns’ Ceilidh.
Up Helly Aa. Pic credit: Captain Oates Flickr
Up Helly Aa
The world-famous annual torch-lit procession and the burning of a galley takes place on the last Tuesday in January in Lerwick, Shetland.
Festival of Winter Walks
Nationwide – December 20 to January 4, 2015
Winter walking. PIc credit: John Haslam Flickr
Make the most of the Christmas holidays and enjoy a chance to burn off some festive calories with the Ramblers’ annual Festival of Winter Walks. There are hundreds of free group walks, from a short stroll to a heartier hike.
Celtic Connections Music Festival
Glasgow – January 15 to February 1, 2015
The largest winter music festival of its kind boasts a wide range of musical performances including folk, roots and world music. It’s been growing for 20 years and many people are festival returners.
WinterFest
Glen Affric NNR, Scotland – February 6 – 8, 2015
This popular winter walking festival offers a wide choice of walks, from a high-level Munro to a Winter Skills course to practise using crampons, ice axes, self arresting and navigation. There will also be an Evening Welcome, Kit Night and Winter Demos.
Wee Dub Festival, Edinburgh
March 6-8 , 2015
Scotland’s biggest celebration of reggae and sound system culture takes place over three days in Edinburgh’s old town. Expect the likes of Iration Steppas, Samson Sounds, DJ Nem and the Channel One Soundsystem playing a host of venues, from the Liquid Room to Studio 24. There are also films and family-friendly activities.
More things to do: National Trust for Scotland at Christmas events.