What's on this September

As summer draws to a close and we welcome in the autumnal colours of the harvest season, September promises to be an enjoyable month of events across Scotland. With a diverse programme of food, music and sport events taking place from the North Sea Orkney Islands to the picturesque towns of Dumfries and Galloway, there is something for everyone this month. 

The events listed are supported through EventScotland’s National and International Event Programmes, and the Community Cycling Fund with a number of the events also forming part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022. Find out more information about Scotland’s Year of Stories and all upcoming events here.  

Dandelion, Scotland’s contribution to UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, is also set to host a variety of free events across the country. Find out more information about Dandelion and all upcoming events here. 

Orkney International Science Festival (Year of Stories)

Hybrid event from 31 August until 7 September in the Orkney Islands.

Escape to the wilds of the North Sea and learn more about our natural surroundings at this year’s Orkney International Science Festival. In celebration of Year of Stories 2022, this year’s festival combines storytelling and science to create a unique event programme filled with educational talks, film and music, and a rich collection of stories from across the island and around the world.

For more information visit the Orkney International Science Festival website. 

Dandelion Inverness Festival (UNBOXED)

In-person event from 2 September until 4 September in the Highlands.

Experience a free three-day festival of music, entertainment, food and workshops taking place in the Highland capital at the Northern Meeting Park at the Inverness Dandelion Festival. The family-friendly event celebrates sustainability across a huge range of creative activities and performances, with a fantastic line-up of artists set to take centre stage, including Del Amitri, King Creosote, and many more.

For more information visit the Dandelion website.

Stranraer Oyster Festival

In-person event from 2 September until 4 September in Dumfries and Galloway.

Stranraer has a wealth of local produce and this three-day celebration of the region’s coastal heritage and unique culture is not to be missed. The all-star line- up for 2022 features none other than Scotland’s spice king himself, Tony Singh, and fellow ‘Cooking with the Stars’ chef Clodagh McKenna. 

Visit the Stranraer Development Trust website for more information.

Peterhead Seafood Festival

In-person event on 3 September in Aberdeenshire. 

A town renowned for its seafood, the Peterhead Seafood Festival is set to be a celebration of the regions fishing heritage and an opportunity for people from all over to try the local cuisine. There will be multiple food and drink stalls offering a wide range of dishes to try, as well as local handmade products on offer so it is certainly not to be missed. 

Visit the Peterhead Seafood Festival website for more information.

Vibrations Festival

In-person event from 3 September until 4 September in Falkirk. 

Enjoy a weekend of eclectic music, from fan favourites to break through artists, at Vibrations Festival in Callendar Park. The festival will have four stages to choose from, as well as a range of food and drink stalls for all attendees to enjoy. Whether you’re just going for the day or want to get the full festival experience, it will be a memorable event. 

Visit the Vibration Festival website for more information.

Music at the Multiverse

In-person event from 3 September until 4 September in Dumfries and Galloway.

Land art installation Crawick Multiverse is sure to provide the perfect stage for a weekend of great tunes from Scottish legends Glasvegas, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Bay City Rollers and many more. The 2022 edition of this family-friendly festival has added a dance tent to proceedings, offering something for everyone.

Visit the Crawick Multiverse website for more information.

Go Swim Loch Lomond

In-person event on 3 September in Balloch. 

This popular open water swimming event has options from 250m for beginners, all the way up to 10,000m for the more adventurous of us. Suitable for all ages and abilities, Go Swim offers the opportunity to take to the Loch Lomond waters, enjoy nature and take in the spectacular scenery – exhilarating, challenging and safe.

Visit the Go Swim website for more information.

Glencoe Marathon Gathering

In-person event on 4 September in the Highlands. 

See the very best of the Northwest at the Glencoe Marathon Gathering, as runners are provided the opportunity to take part in three stunning off-road races that finish in Glencoe. Participants can choose to run in the Marathon, the Half Marathon and the Ronald McDonald House Glasgow 10k, each offering their own unique challenges and scenery, providing runners of all levels an opportunity to take part in this fantastic trail running event. 

Visit the Glencoe Marathon website for more information.

AJ Bell Tour of Britain

In-person from 4 September until 11 September across Scotland.

For the third edition running, Scotland will host multiple days of the Tour of Britain. Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire will host the Grand Départ for the first time ever on Sunday 4 September while Stage Two will take place in the Scottish Borders. This will be the ninth visit to the Borders with Hawick being the starting point before the stage has its first-ever finish in Duns. 

Visit the Tour of Britain website for more information.

Outwith Festival

In-person event from 6 September until 11 September in Fife. 

Bringing cultural and creative activity to Dunfermline, Outwith Festival is an inclusive celebration of the arts taking place across 20 venues. This six-day festival includes over 100 music, comedy and artistic performances, as well as opportunities to experience new films, art and books from a variety of people. 

Visit the Outwith Festival website for more information.

Lammermuir Festival

In-person event from 8 September until 19 September in East Lothian.

Classical music is the order of the day with 35 concerts taking place over 12 days. This ambitious yet intimate festival will welcome the local Scottish Opera and Scottish Chamber Orchestra as well as performers from farther, with American pianist Denk and Austrian quartet Quatuor Mosaïques offering their Viennese take on Schubert and Haydn. 

Visit the Lammermuir Festival website for more information.

Dandelion Harvest (UNBOXED)

In-person event from 9 September until 11 September across Scotland. 

As Dandelion’s public programme comes to an end, the Dandelion Harvest weekend is a national celebration of ‘growing, sowing and sharing’ food, music, and communities. Hundreds of events including ceilidhs, concerts and conversations will be taking place across Scotland, with a programme in each of Dandelion’s 13 Unexpected Gardens, as well as in schools and community spaces across the country.

Visit the Dandelion website for more information.

IFSC Climbing World Cup (Lead and Speed)

In-person from 9 September until 11 September in Edinburgh.

International climbing returns to Edinburgh for the first time in three years with the IFSC Climbing World Cup (Lead and Speed). Taking place at the EICA: Ratho, Europe’s largest indoor climbing centre, the event will bring together the best climbers in the world as GB Climbing fine-tune their preparations ahead of a series of Olympic qualifying events next year. For those unable to make it to Ratho, the action will also be available to watch online via Eurosport.

Visit the British Mountaineering Council website for more information.

Angus Cycling Roadshow

In-person event from 10 September until 24 September in Angus. 

Enjoy an exciting day of cycling with a range of free activities on offer for all. This is a great opportunity to find out more about cycling, learn new skills and discover more about cycling in Angus. The fantastic event will take place across four dates in September across Angus.  

Visit the Visit Angus website for more information.

Dukes Weekender

In-person event from 10 September until 11 September in Stirling. 

The Dukes Weekender returns to Aberfoyle for a weekend of exciting and scenic trail cycling through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. A range of cycling events are set to take place for both adults and children, posing different challenges with each category offering electronically timed stages. The Dukes Weekender 2022 Event Village will host all attendees, providing facilities for racers and entertainment and trade stalls for all to enjoy.

Visit the Dukes Weekender website for more information.

Fife Fest

In-person event from 10 September until 11 September in Fife.

Back for its second year, Fife Fest offers a great atmosphere with music, food trucks and kids’ events to keep all of the family happy across the weekend. Taking place in the stunning Silverburn Park, family truly is at the heart of the event with a “zero tolerance” approach to unfriendly or anti-social behaviour ensuring a great time can be had by everyone.

Visit the Skiddle website for more information.

Davis Cup

In-person event from 13 September until 18 September in Glasgow.

Great Britain has been chosen as one of the four host nations for this year’s Davis Cup Finals group stages, with Glasgow's Emirates Arena named as the UK venue. The event, which is widely regarded as the ‘World Cup of Tennis’ will allow fans to see some of the world’s best players in Glasgow, with Britain taking on the United States, Kazakhstan and the Netherlands in Group D as they play at home for the first time since 2018. 

Visit the Davis Cup website for more information.

TweedLove Festival

In-person event from 16 September until 18 September in Fife.

TweedLove Festival returns to Peebles with the best bike weekend of the year. Whether you’re taking part in the race or soaking up the bike-fest atmosphere, there is something for everyone. Among a range of activities to enjoy, there are also a number of events, including the TL ProAm British Champs, TL ProAm Amateur and the Bosch eMTB Challenge as well as the chance to demo new road, gravel, mountain or e-bikes. 

Visit the TweedLove website for more information.

Vorgrie Pogrie Community Festival

In-person event from 17 September until 18 September in Midlothian.

Vogrie Pogrie describes itself as a “family-friendly festival of creativity and curious happenings”! From Colonel Mustard’s “Born to Rewild” show to Tinderbox Collective’s community spirit, there is certainly something for everyone in this packed weekend of music, crafts, workshops and more.

Visit the Vogrie Pogrie website for more information.

Skyline Scotland

In-person event from 17 September until 18 September in the Highlands.

The Salomon Skyline Scotland is the UK’s biggest weekend of trail running and skyrunning with some of the toughest courses going. Whether you want to challenge yourself or simply enjoy the stunning scenery of Glencoe, there is no other race like it. And for spectators, there is always food, drink, live music and more in the Kinlochleven event village.

Visit the Salomon Skyline Scotland website for more information.

Kingussie 2022 – The Final Fling

In-person event from 17 September until 18 September in the Highlands.

A weekend of folk, pop and rock music, the Final Fling 2022 will feature sets from Peat and Diesel, Manran and more. With the festivities following the Camanchd Cup Final, already a highlight in the shinty calendar, there is sure to be a buoyant atmosphere in Kingussie.

Visit the Skiddle website for more information.

Scottish Wild Food Festival

In-person event from 17 September until 18 September in Stirling. 

Welcome in the harvest season at the Scottish Wild Food Festival, where attendees are provided an immersive outdoor experience learning about our native flora and fauna in the beautiful surroundings of Tir na nOg, Balfunning. Take part in wild foraging walks or enjoy a banquet in the middle of the forest as this festival has a range of free and paid for events to choose from.

Visit the Scottish Wild Food Festival website for more information.

Get Active Family Cycle Challenge, Drumchapel

In-person event on 18 September in Glasgow.

The Drumchapel Cycle Hub is delighted to once again deliver a Get Active event on the sixth anniversary of their first event September 2016. Cycle hub members, family and friends from all over the local community will be welcomed to register for this free event with participants able to choose from Orange (4 miles), Green (12 miles) or Black (20 miles) on this fully supported route. Bike checks and some repairs will be available prior to the start, and a fleet of bikes will be available for those who would like to take part but whose bike is currently not operational.

Visit the Drumchapel Cycle Hub website for more information.

Wigtown Book Festival (Year of Stories)

Hybrid event from 23 September until 2 October in Dumfries and Galloway.

Set in Scotland’s National Book Town, the annual Wigtown Book Festival returns to Dumfries and Galloway for ten days of literary events and workshops to be enjoyed by all. Visit this picturesque market town in the south-west of Scotland and experience the magic of stories coming to life, as people gather to express their love for literature and build meaningful connections on these shared passions. 

Visit the Drumchapel Cycle Hub website for more information.

Dunbar Music Festival

In-person event from 23 September until 25 September in East Lothian. 

Enjoy a weekend of standout music at the Dunbar Music Festival, as the seaside town welcomes visitors from all over for free and ticketed gigs at the Dunbar Parish Hall and across the town in pubs, hotels and other venues. As well as having a programme of award-winning artists headlining the event, there will also be a free masterclass for aspiring musicians to come along and fine tune their talents. 

Visit the Dunbar Music Festival website for more information.

Shetland Wool Week

In-person event from 24 September to 2 October on the Shetland Islands.

Shetland wool is renowned as a world-class product. This critically acclaimed celebration of this, as well as the wider industry and the sheep from which it comes, is a fantastic representation of that culture and the unmatched quality of the wool. There are exhibitions, classes and events for all to enjoy in the beautiful surrounds of the most southern tip of Shetland.

Visit the Shetland Wool Week website for more information.

Callander Jazz and Blues Festival

In-person event from 30 September until 2 October in Stirling.

Enjoy a unique celebration of jazz and blues music in the autumnal beauty of the Trossachs, as the Callander Jazz and Blues Festival returns with an exciting programme of over 50 gigs across 11 different venues. The festival is celebrated across the country and attracts over 120 musicians for a three-day weekend of soul, funk and blues.

Visit the Callander Jazz and Blues Festival website for more information.