Scottish Government
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£350,000 worth of funding to support winter events

The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop today announced funding for Scotland’s Winter Festival Programme – kicking off on St Andrew’s Day, running through Christmas and Hogmanay and culminating in Burns Night – celebrating the country’s distinct culture, heritage and creativity.

Nineteen events will take place across Scotland including, for the first time, the Western Isles. From St Andrew’s Day on November 30 through to Burns Night on January 25, events will run from the Highlands to Dumfries and Galloway, from Stornoway to Stonehaven ranging from storytelling, singing and street acts to flings, fireworks and food. They will form an integral part of the wider celebrations taking place the length and breadth of the country throughout the winter months.

St Andrew’s Day celebrations kick off with a month-long food & drink festival in the town of St Andrews, as well as major celebrations that will take place for the first time in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, family friendly events in George Square in Glasgow and a packed programme of activity as part of The Saltire event in East Lothian. Across Scotland, existing and new choirs will also join to put Scotland on the map as a ‘singing nation’ as part of Scotland Sings, which takes place across various locations around the country.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said:

“St Andrew’s Day, Christmas, Hogmanay and Burns Night are important calendar dates for Scots and these events, together with wider activity, will give everyone the opportunity to celebrate Scotland’s rich heritage and distinctive culture.

“This vibrant winter events programme will bring people together to celebrate Scotland’s modern culture and traditions through the best of our nation’s music, arts, food and drink, innovation and entertainment.

“As a year round destination for visitors, Scotland welcomes over 15.3 million people every year. St Andrew’s Day, Christmas, Hogmanay and Burns Night are perfect for celebrating all things Scottish either with us here in Scotland or around the world.”

Notes to editors

Scotland’s Winter Festivals

  • Scotland’s Winter Festivals kicks off on St Andrew’s Day (30 November), runs through Christmas and Hogmanay and culminates in Burns Night (25 January).
  • Scotland is a year round destination for visitors with unique events showcasing Scotland’s distinctive culture taking place across Scotland’s Winter Festivals celebrations.
  • Funded by the Scottish Government, Scotland’s Winter Festivals are delivered by the national events agency EventScotland, part of VisitScotland.

EventScotland will be delivering the following events through funding received from the Scottish Government:

  • St Andrews Food and Drink Festival 2 Nov – 1 Dec 2013

The second annual St Andrews Food & Drink Festival is a month-long programme of events with a food and drink theme at a host of venues around the town. There will be events on each of the weekends of the month building up to St Andrew’s Day weekend.

  • Oban Winter Festival 22 Nov – 1 Dec 2013

A 10 day celebration of Oban’s unique culture and community with street parades, international and local acts, fire art, pipers and a lantern parade. Events vary each day from the Reindeer parade and Christmas light switch on to the ceilidhs and light shows. New to the programme this year will be the St Andrew’s Day celebrations.

  • The Saltire 2013 27 Nov - 1 Dec 2013

Widely recognised as the birthplace of the national flag, East Lothian presents a programme of music, food and drink and children’s activities which culminates in the ever popular Home of The Flag celebration in the historic village of Athelstaneford.

  • Glasgow Loves St. Andrew’s Day - 30 Nov - 1 Dec 2013

From 29th November to 1st December, George Square will celebrate the pride of Scotland’s national day with a curated programme of Scottish traditional and contemporary cultural events, visual spectacles and music. 30th November will be filled with family friendly performances, storytelling and street arts.

  • Scotland Sings 29 Nov – 1 Dec 2013

Following on from last year’s success, The Singing Trail will involve multiple Scots, English and Gaelic choirs starting at Perth Theatre with a closing performance at Perth Concert Hall, This promises to be one of the largest Scotland Sings events over St Andrew's Weekend 2013.

  • Storytelling Centre - St Andrew’s Day - 30 Nov 2013

A celebration of Scottish culture with activities for children and adults. Children are invited to join Mrs Mash for the lively delivery of traditional Scottish tales, while Andy Cannon will tell the stories he has collected from his year-long trip around Scotland to discover the tales and traditions of a nation. The day will close with a musical celebration from the Greig Duncan Folk Song collection.

  • Edinburgh’s St Andrews Day 2013 - 30 Nov 2013

As part of the city’s exciting new Edinburgh’s Christmas programme, St Andrew's Day events will take place this year in the city's Grassmarket. Live music, an open air ceilidh, food and drink and storytelling to wow little ones will make for a family friendly day-long celebration in the heart of the city.

  • Stirling's Hogmanay - 31 Dec

The ever popular Stirling’s Hogmanay celebrations will this year be headlined by Scot’s rockers Deacon Blue against the iconic backdrop of Stirling Castle.

  • Stonehaven Hogmanay - Open Air in the Square 30 Dec 2013 – 1 Jan 2014

This four day festival will kick off with an open air concert headlined by music legends Simple Minds. The event sits alongside a renowned fire ball event the area is famed for.

  • Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 30 Dec 2013 – 1 Jan 2014

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is one of Scotland’s flagship festivals, attracting 80,000 revellers from Scotland and beyond to the street party alone. . This three day festival starts with the Torchlight Procession, followed by the world famous street party on the 31st of December and an eclectic programme of music and theatre taking place in venues around the old town on New Year’s Day.

  • 'Hogmanay in the Honest Toun' - 31 Dec 2013

This Hogmanay programme in Musselburgh is designed for families with events through the daytime in the Brunton Theatre and town hall, Scottish themed entertainment including a family Ceilidh, drumming, storytelling and sing-alongs. The programme concludes in the early evening with a lantern procession and fireworks.

  • The Red Hot Highland Fling - 31 Dec 2013

Inverness hosts this free Hogmanay concert which promises to be a high energy traditional Scottish party.

  • Glasgow Loves Hogmanay - 31 Dec 2013

A range of family programming, featuring street arts, traditional Scottish children’s theatre, food tastings, traditional Scottish performances to attract audiences young and old to George Square.

  • Ceilidh Festival: An Lanntair 31 Dec 2013 – 3 Jan 2014

New programme for Scotland’s Winter Festivals in the award winning An Lanntair in Stornoway. Hogmanay celebrations will feature local musicians and a ceilidh band, and events will have a focus on the promotion of Gaelic and traditional arts.

  • Big Burns Supper - 24 – 26 Jan 2014

An artistic celebration with a jam packed programme of events dedicated to our national bard. Scotland’s Winter Festival will support the return of the hugely popular Speigel Tent in the heart of Dumfries.

  • Scottish Storytelling Centre - 25 Jan 2014

A fun, family-friendly series of events that will promote Scotland’s rich history in a modern and unique manner.

  • Burns: Life of the Poet - 25 Jan 2014

A highland celebration of the life and times of Robert Burns which will include a procession and performances within Eden Court and surrounding streets of Inverness, concluding with a Grand Burns Ceilidh.

  • The Robert Burns Humanitarian Award - 25 Jan 2014

The prestigious international award takes place at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayrshire and is awarded in the name of our national bard and presented to an individual or group who has saved, improved or enriched the lives of others or society as a whole through personal self-sacrifice or other acts.

  • Burns Unbound - Museum of Rural Life – 25 - 26 Jan 2014

This family friendly event will bring history to life with characters such as Robert Burns and Jean Armour walking amongst visitors to the East Kilbride centre. Traditional music, children’s theatre, and take and make craft activities will entertain crowds in between Burns themed tours of the museum that are set to educate and inspire those who attend.

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