Holidays & Festivals

Scotland
Holidays:
Scotland celebrates the following holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day (first Monday in May), spring and summer bank holidays (last Mondays in May and August, respectively), Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (Dec 26).

Festivals:
Edinburgh plays host every year to the Edinburgh International Festival (August), which celebrates the arts with music, dance and fringe theater. Other popular festivals are the Edinburgh International Jazz & Blue Festival, considered the largest jazz event in Britain, and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, held around the famous Edinburgh Castle and celebrating over 50 years of military music and performance.

In the Scottish Highlands, the Inverness Music Festival (February) has taken place since 1922, and is considered one of the largest music festivals in Scotland. There is also the Highlands & Islands Music & Dance Festival (May), the Highland Whiskey Festival (June), and the Blas Festival (September), which celebrates Gaelic heritage and traditional music.

Glasgow hosts the popular Glasgow International Comedy Festival in March. Represented by almost 200 events, such as comedic films, workshops and stand-up comedians, this festival is held in venues all over the city. Also in Glasgow is the Glasgow Jazz Festival, which takes place in June and is well attended by musician from all over the world.