August 2020

A selection of summer-time events in Scotland

Scotland is abuzz with Festivals, Games and Shows in the summer time. Check here or with your host to see what you can see during your visit

Please be advised that due to the current Covid-19 situation, many events for 2020 will now be cancelled or rescheduled. Please check with individual event organisers.

Edinburgh Art Festival
30 July - 30 August 2020
A celebration of the capital's visual art community involving galleries and museums, smaller independent spaces, and artist-led organisations across the city.

Belladrum - Tartan Heart Festival
30 July - 1 August 2020
Annual music festival near Inverness

Perth Show
31 July - 1 August 2020
A great day out in Perth for all the family including the Grand Parade of Livestock, local artisan crafts, Perthshire on a Plate with celebrity and local chefs, entertainment, trade stalls and much more.

Clan Cameron Gathering
30 July - 2 August 2020, Achnaharry, West Highlands
International Gathering of Clan Cameron at Achnacarry near Spean Bridge, hosted by clan chief Donald Cameron of Lochiel.

Glamis Country Fair & Horse Trials
31 July - 2 August 2020
A new event first hosted at Glamis Castle in 2019.

Kirkcudbright Art and Crafts Trail
31 July - 3 August 2020, Dumfries & Galloway
Winner of Epic Awards 2015 and 2015/2016 Scottish Thistle Awards.

Nairn Show
1 August 2020
Livestock exhibitions, craft fair, food stalls and amusements is held at Kinnudie Farm, Auldearn, near Nairn.

Pittenweem Arts Festival
1 - 8 August 2020, Pittenweem, Fife
One of Scotland’s oldest art festivals.

Skye Agricultural Show
1 August 2020, Portree

Dumfries & Lockerbie Show
1 August 2020
Annual agricultural show.

Mey Highland Games
1 August 2020
The Mey Games takes place near the Castle of Mey (former home to HM The Queen Mother) every August with the patronage of His Royal Highness The Duke of Rothesay.

Newtonmore Highland Games
1 August 2020, Newtonmore, Cairngorms, Highlands

Aboyne Highland Games
1 August 2020, Aberdeenshire
Join with clansmen and women who will be heading to the north east from across the globe to the village green in the centre of Aboyne where the games have been held since 1867. The games have been noted worldwide for being a centre of excellence for the traditional disciplines of Highland Games. Not only is Aboyne recognised for this, but also as a gathering venue for a dozen clans indigenous to the North East of Scotland

Aberlour Strathspey Highland Games
1 August 2020

Bridge of Allan Highland Games
2 August 2020, near Stirling

Mallaig & Morar Highland Games
2 August 2020, West Highlands

The Scottish Alternative Games
tbc 4 August 2020, New Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway
The Lowland alternative to the more traditional Highland Games is a fun day out for all the family.

Killin Highland Games
5 August 2020, Perthshire

Wigtown Agricultural Show
5 August 2020, Bladnoch Park, Wigtown, Dumfries & Galloway

Isle of Skye Highland Games
5 August 2020, Portree, Isle of Skye

Black Isle Show
6 August 2020 near Muir of Ord, just north of Inverness.
This is the largest agricultural show in the North of Scotland. It attracts over 2,000 cattle, horse and sheep entries, more than 300 trade stands and over 25,000 visitors to the show each year. There is plenty to see and do, craft fair, food fair, 'On the Farm' exhibition for the kids, agricultural stands, vintage rally and sheep shearing.

Dornoch Highland Gathering
7 August 2020, Sutherland, north Highlands

International Clan Grant Gathering
7 - 13 August 2020, Nethy Bridge, Highlands

Clan Mackenzie Gathering
7 - 14 August 2020, Strathpeffer, Ullapool and Hebrides
A range events from the clan seat at Castle Leod in Strathpeffer to the Outer Hebrides of Harris and Lewis.

Edinburgh Military Tattoo
7 - 29 August 2020
Celebrating 70 years of this iconic event at Edinburgh Castle.

The Edinburgh International Festival
7 - 31 August 2020
One of the most exciting, innovative and accessible festivals of the performing arts in the world.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
7 - 31 August 2020

Fringe by the Sea
7 - 16 August 2020, North Berwick
A seaside mixture of music, comedy, literature, film, politics, etc.

Inverkeithing Highland Games
8 August 2020, Inverkeithing, Fife

Atholl & Breadalbane Agricultural Show and Highland Gathering
8 August 2020, Aberfeldy
Highland games and agricultural show with cattle, horse, sheep and pet show.

Bright Beauly Fair
tbc 8 August 2020, Beauly, Scottish Highlands
Showcasing local arts, crafts, food and drink from the Highlands.

Strathpeffer Highland Gathering
8 August 2020, Strathpeffer, Highlands
Enjoy this traditional Highland Gathering in the sylvan setting of the grounds of Castle Leod on the edge of the village of Strathpeffer.

Abernethy Highland Games & Clan Grant Gathering
8 August 2020, Nethy Bridge, Inverness-shire

Morebattle Highland Games
8 August 2020, Kelso, Scottish Borders

North Berwick Highland Games
8 August 2020, East Lothian

Brodick Highland Games
8 August 2020, Isle of Arran

Piping Live!
8 - 16 August 2020
Glasgow international piping festival - competitions and events at various venues

Perth Highland Games
9 August 2020

Party at The Palace
10 - 11 August 2020, Linlithgow
Award winning 2-day outdoor festival near Linlithgow Palace.

Ballater Highland Games
13 August 2020, Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire

Grantown Show
tbc 13 August 2020, Grantown-on-Spey
An agricultural show with livestock (including Highland Cows), food stands, farmers’ market, tractors and much more. A great day out for all the family.

Scottish Ladies Open Golf
13 - 16 August 2020, East Lothian
The Renaissance Club in North Berwick hosts the 2020 ladies’ Scottish Open golf tournament.

Banchory Beer Festival
tbc August 2020, Aberdeenshire
Live music, street food and more on the Deeside Rugby Club Pitches.

Assynt Highland Games
14 August 2020, Lochinver, north Highlands

World Pipe Band Championships
14 - 15 August 2020, Glasgow

Edinburgh International Book Festival
15 - 31 August 2020

Innerleithen Music Festival
tbc August 2020, Innerleithen, Scottish Borders
Annual weekend of acoustic music.

Nairn Highland Games
15 August 2020

Stirling Highland Games
15 August 2020

Helmsdale Highland Games
15 August 2020, north Highlands

Glenfinnan Highland Gathering
15 August 2020, Lochaber, west Highlands

Scottish National Champs Enduro
15 - 16 August 2020, Scottish Borders
Endurance mountain bike race around the Tweed Valley to crown the King and Queen of the Hill.

Crieff Highland Games
16 August 2020, Perthshire

Kinlochard Highland Gathering
16 August 2020
The Gathering is an annual community gala day and mini Highland Games for the village of Kinlochard in the heart of the Trossachs

Glenisla Highland Games
21 August 2020, Glenisla, Angus

Alba Real Ale Festival
21 - 23 August 2020, Tayside
Family event in Tayside with beers, bands and BBQ food!

Glenurquhart Highland Games
22 August 2020 at Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness

Isle of Bute Highland Games
22 August 2020

Lochaber Agricultural Show & Family Fun Day
tbc 22 August 2020, Inverlochy Castle Farm, near Fort William

Lonach Highland Games
22 August 2020, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire

Galloway Country Fair
22 - 23 August 2020 at Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway

Grantown Highland Games
tbc 23 August 2020, Cairngorms

Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair
27 - 31 August 2020, Blair Atholl, Perthshire
Scotland’s premier equestrian event is held annually in one of Scotland’s most scenic locations. Four days of International Eventing takes centre stage while the Bruar Country Fair offers something the non-horsey visitor.

Argyllshire Gathering (Oban Highland Games)
27 August 2020

Cowal Highland Gathering
27 - 29 August 2020
The world's largest Highland Games at Dunoon

Ride the North
28 - 29 August 2020
170 miles cycling over 2 days through Aberdeenshire and Moray - starting and finishing at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford. 2020 is the 10th year of this challenge set in spectacular scenery.

Bell Rock Music Festival
28 - 30 August 2020, Arbroath

Thunder in the Glens
28 - 31 August 2020, Grantown-on-Spey & Aviemore
The largest Harley Davidson motor bike rally in the UK with around 5000 bikes to see and hear!

Strathaven Balloon Festival
28 - 30 August 2020, Lanarkshire
Now in its 21st year. Free admission.

Beyond Borders International Festival
29 - 30 August 2020, Traquair House, Innerleithen
Cultural festival in the Scottish Borders including literature, performing arts, visual arts, heritage, film, politics and dialogue.

Kirkcudbright Floodlit Tattoo and Fireworks
29 August 2020, Dumfries & Galloway

Moffat Show
29 August 2020
Annual agricultural show in Dumfries and Galloway.

Birnam Highland Games
29 August 2020, Little Dunkeld, Perthshire
Over 150 years old.

Go Swim Loch Lomond
29 August 2020, Balloch
Huge charity swim.

Three Lochs Book & Arts Festival
29 - 30 August 2020, Strontian, West Highlands
Book and arts festival in Ardnamurchan

Largs Viking Festival
29 August - 6 September 2020, Ayrshire
Annual event which marks the Battle of Largs in 1263 (the last mainland battle between the Scots and Norse). Now in its 40th year!