Inverness Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Inverness, Scotland, UK)

Inverness is one of the most active cities in Scotland when it comes to things to do and special events. The city sponsors a packed festival calendar all through the summer and winter. Each season features a wonderful variety of music, theatre, culture, food, film and all other kinds of events.

There are also some top-class festivals every week of the summer, such as the Rockness open-air music fest in June, the City of Inverness Highland Games each July, and the Black Isle Show at the beginning of August. Winter generally sees the events move indoors, with the November Film Fest a massive highlight, but there's still plenty on offer around the city.

Inverness Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year's Day - January 1st, the city rings in the new year with as much energy and spirit as anywhere else. Expect lots of live music, parties, drinking, and well, more drinking, starting on New Year's Eve (Hogmanay) and continuing well into the early hours of New Year's Day
• Burns' Night - January 25th, Burns Suppers are held all over Scotland to pay tribute to world-famous Scottish poet and lyricist, Robert Burns (1759 to 1796)

February

• Kingussie Food on Film Festival - food, film and music converge on the small Highland town of Kingussie, roughly 69 km / 43 miles to the south. This is as homegrown as celebrations get in Scotland, so if you want to mix your cinema with tasty regional grub and drink, this sweet little gathering is for you

March

• Inverness Music Festival - early March, this competitive music extravaganza showcases the best singers and musicians in Scotland and the UK. Traditional forms of music are the focus, with excellent examples of fiddle and harp playing, as well as choral singing
• Inverness Half Marathon - for more than two decades this popular half-marathon running race has been taking place in the scenic countryside around the city. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful courses on the planet, attracting thousands of runners each year, as well as huge crowds of cheering onlookers
• Celtic New Year - one for the more traditionally Scottish, formerly held annually on November 1st and now taking place on March 25th

April

• Culloden Battle Anniversary - April 16th, celebrating the most famous battle to occur in the area. Living history presentations are held at the Culloden Battlefield site throughout the day, along with pipers, food and other fun activities

May

• May Day - the first Monday each May, every year the folks of Inverness get this day off work. Being a national holiday, virtually everyone has time off, so you can expect local attractions to be a bit busier than usual
• Spring Bank Holiday - last Monday in May, as if one bank holiday in a month isn't enough, locals get another day off at the very end of May. This is certainly a good way to ease into the anticipated summer, with a pervasive feeling of cheer appearing all around the city

June

• Rockness - early June, Clune Farm, just outside the city, is the site of this hugely popular outdoor music fest. For three days every June, the countryside reverberates to the sounds of the hottest bands around. Global headliners mix it up with local outfits in this worthy event

July

• City of Inverness Highland Games - mid June / late June, these centuries-old Highland Games are the pinnacle of the summer social calendar. Sporting competitions and balls draw huge crowds to the city to celebrate the ancient Highlander traditions. This is one event to plan a trip around
• Inverness Tattoo - the Northern Meeting Park Arena is the stage for the biggest tattoo event in the Highlands. Even if you are just a fan of art work, the talent on display is truly impressive. Of course, it is also an ideal place to pick up some new ink on your body

August

• August Bank Holiday - first Monday in August, a Scottish public holiday not held anywhere else in the UK
• Black Isle Show - early August, the largest agricultural event in northern Scotland, taking place each year at the magical location of Black Isle. Thousands of people come to enjoy good food, fun activities, local crafts and interesting events, like sheep shearing and livestock competitions
• Tartan Heart Festival - early August, this family oriented music fest presents everything from rock and blues to world music. Held at Beauly's lovely Belladrum Estate, the Tartan Heart provides a fantastic way to spend a couple of days outdoors listening to quality regional bands

September

• Northern Meeting - the ancient tradition of bagpipes reaches a competitive level every September as pipers from around the world converge on Inverness. This is the most prestigious solo bagpiping event on the planet, so if you enjoy the sounds of the pipes you won't want to miss this spectacle
• Blas Traditional Music Festival - early September, traditional Scottish music is the theme of this popular annual event held at the city and other locations around the Highlands

October

• Blazin' in Beauly - early October, this local music fest features many of the hottest bands in Scotland and the UK. Expect plenty of fiddle music mixed with amazing fusion sounds and other Scottish-flavoured ensembles, in the cool town of Beauly

November

• Guy Fawkes Night - around November 5th, celebrated enthusiastically all over the city, with official fireworks displays
• Inverness Film Festival - early November, up-and-coming film directors from the UK and all over the world are the focus of this small but engaging film fest. Around two dozen films are shown during the week-long event, with many of the directors themselves in attendance
• St. Andrew's Day - November 30th, with much traditional folk dancing and music for all ages to enjoy, as the patron saint of Scotland is remembered

December

• Christmas - December 25th, this holiday is one of the best times to visit Scotland. The city really dresses itself up with warm twinkling lights, green wreathes and plenty of good cheer
• Red Hot Highland Fling / Hogmanay - December 31st, the city's amazing winter festival schedule runs for three months, climaxing with this free Hogmanay Party. You can be sure that most of the breathing residents of the city will be at the Northern Meeting Park Arena for this massive end of the year party