Student Guide
10 UNMISSAB With even more festivals than there are rainy days, where do you start? Kirstyn Smith pi
ST ANDREW’S DAY
Scotland’s national day (Rabbie who?) sees celebrations pop up all over the country. The patron saint of Scotland is celebrated with workshops,
debates, food and drink events and, of course, a ceilidh or two. Scotland-wide, Nov.
GLASGAY!
Europe’s largest LGBT multi-arts festival takes over Glasgow for four fabulous weeks every year. Expect a fantastic programme of comedy, music, i lm, theatre, visual art, performance art,
literature, club nights, educational events and community arts projects that take in a broad spectrum of sexuality and excludes nobody. Glasgow, Oct–Nov.
EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY
Nobody does Hogmanay like the Scots, and Edinburgh’s celebrations are the most lavish. The Torchlight Procession, the Son et Lumière on
Calton Hill, the massive gig (Lily Allen headlines this year) and the world-famous i reworks ensure that New Year is ushered in with a bang. Edinburgh, Dec. See also: Glasgow
Loves Hogmanay, Dec.
BELTANE FIRE FESTIVAL The infamous night of pagan
mayhem and madness is a modern interpretation of the ancient fertility festival, staged on the spectacular setting of Calton Hill. Celebrate the death of winter and birth of
summer with drumming, dancing and general debauchery. Edinburgh, Apr. See also: Samhuinn Fire Festival,
Edinburgh, Oct.
106 THE LIST 18 Sep–16 Oct 2014
T IN THE PARK
The grandaddy of Scottish music festivals arose from
humble beginnings in 1994 to become the sonic behemoth it is now. Over the years and locations, line-ups have been solid, with everyone from
Rage Against the Machine to Arctic Monkeys headlining its
hallowed stages. Perthshire, Jul.