Visit Scotland | Alba
Article published 30/06/2023

A total of 23 public-facing events across 14 local authorities in Scotland received a share of £277,666 from EventScotland’s National Events Programme (Round 48). This will support events taking place from July to December 2023.

Among the live sporting and cultural events to receive support are:

  • The Black Isle Show
  • Run the Blades at Whitelee Wind Farm
  • Paisley Halloween Festival
  • Fringe by the Sea
  • Stirling's Hogmanay
  • Beatson's Building Supplies Mull Rally
  • Oban Winter Festival
  • Nairn Book & Arts Festival
  • Vogrie Pogrie Community Festival
  • Crieff Highland Gathering
  • Aberdeen Mela

Two events set to take place this forthcoming weekend are also supported through the programme. It will prove to be festival experience for young people from across the local community and beyond. Youth Beatz, Scotland’s Youth Music Festival in Dumfries will see top music acts.

The ACE Winches Scottish Traditional Boat Festival will drop anchor this weekend in the historic harbour of Portsoy for their 30th anniversary celebrations.

This includes music and dance, the finest Scottish food and drink, and a flotilla of heritage boats from across the country.

For those looking to discover Scotland’s delicious natural larder, events supported through the programme also include Stranraer Oyster Festival and the Scottish Wild Food Festival.

If music events strike a chord, there’s HebCelt, Doonhame Festival, Party at the Palace, Tiree Music Festival, and Lammermuir Festival.

And if science-fuelled fun is your thing - Orkney International Science Festival and Stirling Science Festival will also provide packed programmes designed to educate and inspire.

We are extremely grateful for the support from EventScotland’s National Events Programme. Their funding is instrumental in making HebCelt possible, allowing us to bring a world-class event to the Hebrides each year, whilst taking further steps towards sustainability.

Graham MacCallum, HebCelt Festival Director

Mounting festivals has never been more challenging with both the pressure on public funding and the continuing recovery from the pandemic. Being recognised as part of the national events programme and supported to develop the festival through the creation of a new strand of promenade, semi-theatrical performances and work to attract a younger audience to our world-class classical music concerts in beautiful locations across East Lothian is incredibly validating and important to the future of Lammermuir Festival.

James Waters, Co-artistic Director of Lammermuir Festival

A brand new event marking the 100th anniversary of the sailing of the Metagama from Stornoway, will also be supported through the programme. Leaving Home and Tattoo Metagama will be held in the spectacular surroundings of Lews Castle. The event will feature an array of entertainment and activities following a grand parade led by the 78th Fraser Highlanders pipe band from Ontario, Canada.

Our National Events Programme continues to play a crucial role in supporting Scotland’s event sector. Establishing, developing and evolving a far-reaching range of sport and cultural events across the country. Having them in our calendar further strengthens Scotland’s place as the perfect stage for events.

Events also provide a vital means to generate and distribute additional positive economic, social, and cultural impacts across the country throughout the year. They play an important role in our communities, enabling us all to connect, enjoy and share memorable experiences.

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland

The National Events Programme is one of the core funding programmes run by EventScotland. The programme supports the strategic development of events which drive domestic tourism. It has been designed specifically to support public-facing live sporting and cultural events. Taking place out with the local authority areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow to ensure representation of events across Scotland’s local authorities.

Deadline dates for future National Event Programme applications (Round 49) will be announced in due course.

Full list format of supported events

Event Date
Aberdeen Mela - One World Day 27 August
Beatson's Building Supplies Mull Rally 13 - 15 October
Crieff Highland Gathering 20 August
Doonhame Festival 21 - 22 July
Fringe by the Sea 4 - 13 August
HebCelt 13 - 16 July
Lammermuir Festival 7 - 18 September
Leaving Home and Tattoo Metagama 11 - 12 August
Nairn Book & Arts Festival 30 August - 3 September
Oban Winter Festival 17 - 26 November
Orkney International Science Festival 7 - 13 September
Paisley Halloween Festival 26 - 28 October
Party at the Palace 12 - 13 August
Run the Blades 14 - 16 July
Scottish Traditional Boat Festival 30 June - 2 July
Scottish Wild Food Festival 16 - 17 September
Stirling Science Festival TBC
Stirling's Hogmanay TBC
Stranraer Oyster Festival 15 - 17 September
The Black Isle Show 2 -3 August
Tiree Music Festival 7 - 9 July
Vogrie Pogrie Community Festival 15 - 17 September
Youth Beatz 1 - 2 July

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