January
Burns Night
Celebrated in Scotland every year on January 25th. Usually celebrated by a "supper" which is a meal of mashed "neeps" (swede), mashed potato and haggis (a tradtional scottish dish) and Scotch Whisky. The celebration is started with a Selkirk grace.
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.
February
SPECTRA Light Festival
Aberdeen’s Festival of Light, dazzles the city with a spectacular array of light installations, exhibitions and events.
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.
March
Jazz Festival
Five days packed with musical excitement from across the jazz and blues spectrum. Bringing stars of the blues and jazz world to Aberdeen, playing not only at Festival’s heart - The Blue Lamp - but also The Music Hall and St Mary’s Cathedral.
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.
April
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.
May
May Festival
The University of Aberdeen is committed to being a key player in the cultural and intellectual life of the North-East and beyond, and we are proud to see the May Festival establishing itself as a highlight in the region’s cultural calendar. Show-casing history, music, science and literature.
World Whisky Day
A day to celebrate the national drink with tastings, ceilidhs and distillery visits.
Ballater Walking Festival
Run continuously since 1998 this festival caters to all abilities of walkers. Making the most of the magnificent views on easy, medium and strenuous walks over six days, which are led by knowledgeable local residents, full-time rangers and professional mountain guides.
Look Again
Aberdeen’s visual art and design festival showcasts innovative and imaginative artwork throughout the city centre.
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.
June
Aberdeen Highland Games
The Aberdeen Highland Games are an integral part of the Grampian Games circuit and are delivered under the auspices of the Scottish Highland Games Association. There are many events taking places at the Games, from Caber Tossing, to Highland Dancing and Piping.
Oldmeldrum Sports & Highland Games
The first games were held in 1930, and are now an institution in the area. On the day you can enjoy a host of events including - The Massed Pipe Bands, Glenfiddich Qualifying Heavy Events, Britsih Caber Tossing Championships and Highland Dancing.
Portsoy Boat Festival
Through the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, the Salmon Bothy and the PORT Boatshed, every member of the family can discover, enjoy, learn about and participate in the maritime and cultural heritage of the North East. This includes sailing, boat building and restoration, fishing, history, crafts, theatre, literature and language, music, dance and dancing and food & drink.
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.
July
Stonehaven Folk Festival
An annual festival of traditional and contemporary music and song held in the picturesque harbour town of Stonehaven. Held over 4 days the town comes alive with music, as all the pubs and halls open their doors to ad hoc sessions and concerts.
Aboyne & Deeside Festival
An annual arts festival in Royal Deeside with a broad range of events covering classical, folk and contemporary music, politics, thought, art, drama, literature and film.
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.
August
Aboyne Highland Games
1st Saturday in August - Having run for over 140 years, the Aboyne Games have attracted thousands of visitors to witness the yearly show of Scottish culture in one of the most scenic parts of Aberdeenshire.
Turriff Show
Held on the Sunday & Monday before the first Tuesday in August - the largest annual event to be held in Aberdeenshire and is the largest two-day show in Scotland. The Show is now regarded as the main shop window for the promotion of agriculture and the food industry in the north east of Scotland. The show offers a wide variety of attractions for the whole family from cookery demonstrations, food & craft fairs, vintage cars to highland dancing.
Ballater Victoria Week
Second week of August - Nine days of fun in Royal Deeside’s prettiest villiage. Initiated in 1987 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession and to raise funds for the refurbishment of the Victoria and Albert Halls, Ballater's Victoria Week brings together numerous sections of the community to lay on a host of fun activities for all ages.
Ballater Highland Games
held annually on the 2nd Thursday in August - The games have been held since 1864 and today the events form part of the circuits comprising the Glenfiddich Heavy Events Championship and the Grampian Games Qualifying Championship. Ballater Highland Games prides itself in having something for everyone, young and old alike. On Games Day there are multifarious trade stands, together with a fun fair for the children. To complete the day, Beat Retreat by the Pipe Bands is planned for 7pm on the Church Green in Ballater.
Lonach Highland Gathering & Games
Always the 4th Saturday in August - Offering all the favourite events such as heavy events, dancing competitions, hill race and Beating of the Retreat, for many the highlight is the march of the Lonach Highlanders and massed pipe bands.
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.
September
Aberdeen Art Fair
Visitors can expect to see the cream of Scottish talent, previously unseen work from established artists, household names, fresh new work from up and coming artists all in a friendly informal atmosphere at Aberdeen's iconic Music Hall.
Huntly Hairst
A celebration of food and farming. An unique annual Harvest festival taking place in Huntly. This family event celebrates the food and traditions of Aberdeenshire. It has something for everyone, from the legendary Halloween parade to the Best Stovies in the World competition.
Braemar Gathering
1st Saturday in September - Visited annually by members of the Royal Family, International athletes will be among those taking part in the "heavy" and "track" events. Pipers and dancers will be of the usual high standard, while teams from H.M. Forces will compete in the InterServices Unit Tug of War Championship and in the Services Medley Relay Race. A Hill Race will again be run up Morrone and Scottish Pipe Bands will be to the fore with the customary Massed Pipe Bands appearing.
North East Open Studios (NEOS)
An award winning collective of artists, makers and designers based in the North East of Scotland. It is run on voluntary grounds as a community organisation. Painters, jewellers, photographers.
TechFest
Aberdeen's annual science festival, with workshops, talks and events for all ages.
Doors Open Day
Scotland’s largest free annual architectural event. It is coordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust and is part of European Heritage Days along side Scottish Archaeology Month, coordinated by Archaeology Scotland (formerly known as the Council for Scottish Archaeology). Both are supported by Historic Scotland.
Active Aboyne Outdoor Activities Festival
Showcasing the best outdoor activities that Royal Deeside has to offer including - watersports, walking, mountain biking and nature watching.
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.
October
DanceLive Festival
DanceLive is an annual festival celebrating dance, and is Scotland’s only festival exclusively presenting contemporary dance. DanceLive presents a programme of work from large scale to studio sharings, from national and international companies, and performances for new and family audiences. The Festival also provides opportunities for people to engage and take part through a programme of film, talks, school and community workshops and masterclasses.
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.
November
Bonfire Night Fireworks
The Winter Festival starts off its seasonal calendar on the 5th November with Aberdeen's spectacular Fireworks display at Aberdeen Beach. Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated enthusiastically north of the border, expect the usual bonfires, firework displays and 'penny for the guy' requests.
Speyside Whisky Festival
The Festival invites visitors to celebrate Scotland’s national drink through an inventive and wide-ranging programme of whisky-inspired events – some educational, all of them fun.
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.
December
Aberdeen's Winter Festival
Aberdeen's Christmas celebrations are well underway with Christmas light switch on, carol concerts, Santa's grotto and much more!
Country Fair
Last Saturday of the month - Since 2000, Aberdeen Country Fair has been on Belmont Street to allow local producers the chance to showcase their goods to the people of Aberdeen City.