Events and Festivals around Inverness and Loch Ness

A year of fantastic events in the Scottish Highlands

There is so much happening in Inverness and the Highlands that it can be difficult to decide just what to do and where to go. To help you with this we have developed an Events Calendar to highlight some of the best events happening in and around Inverness during the year. Just click on the event to find out more information. Certain events, especially The Loch Ness Marathon and The Inverness Highland Games do attract many visitors and early booking of your Inverness accommodation is essential.

What Events are you Interested in?

Please note that many events in 2020 have either been postponed or cancelled due to Cornoavirus (Covid-19). We are trying to keep the list as up-to-date as possible, but for accurate information please visit the website of the event you are interested in.

Regular Events & Entertainment

Highland Games & Gatherings

January through March Events

April through June Events

July through September Events

October through December Events

Regular Events & Entertainment in Inverness

All of the locations below are within an easy walk of our Inverness B&B.

Inverness Farmers Market – held on the first Saturday of every month at the Eastgate Shopping Centre. This is just a five-minute walk from Inverglen Guest House.
Eden Court Theatre & Cinema Complex – for a wide range of entertainment including plays, music, lectures, dance
Hootananny & Mad Hatters – Music Venues including traditional Scottish Folk Sessions. Music every evening (and Ceilidh on Saturday afternoons)
MacGregors Bar – All the best in Scottish food, drink, and music. Regular live sessions
The Ironworks – Music and Entertainment Venue
Gellions Bar – Pub with live music most nights
British Legion Pipe Band – Perform in Inverness High Street every Tuesday from 8 pm until 8.30 pm (usually from end June until early September)

Highland Games & Gatherings

During the summer months from May to September, the Scottish Highlands plays host to many Highland Games & Gatherings. Some of these are listed below, but more information can be found on our Highland Games Page. Once again the Inverness Games and Gathering in July is an easy walk from our Inverness accommodation.

January to March

January 2021 (date TBA) – Aviemore Sled Dog Rally – The largest Sled Dog Rally in Britain
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March 2021 (date TBA) – The Snowman Rally – Round 1 of The Scottish Rally Championships is run around the Inverness area
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14 March 2021 – Inverness Half Marathon – Includes 5k Fun Run
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April Events

April 2021 (date TBA) – Glenlivet 10k Road Race – This beautiful 10km road race follows a scenic route from the distillery around the secret glen with stunning views all around
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17 April 2021 – Battle of Culloden Memorial – 10:30 am on Culloden Battlefield. A moving remembrance of a terrible and tragic event.
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30 April -2 May 2021 – Crime and Thrillers Weekend – Organised by Cromarty Arts Trust
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May Events

May 2021 (date TBA), Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival – Various Distilleries, Elgin, Morayshire
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May 2021 (date TBA) – Glen Affric Duathlon – Staged within the Glen Affric Nature Reserve – often described as Scotland’s most beautiful glen – this is a run/bike/run event.
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May 2021 (date TBA) – Inverness Classic Vehicle Show – Vehicles from all eras are on display throughout the City centre
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16 May 2021 – Gordon Castle Highland Games – Gordon Castle, Fochabers – Events include Solo Piping and Highland Dancing Competitions as well as a full programme of heavy events.
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28 to 30 May 2021 (provisional dates) – The Loch Ness 360° Challenge – A new three-day running or cycling event over 129 km with more than 3000 m of ascent. Circumnavigating Loch Ness, this is a challenge with a view that you’ll never forget.
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May 2021 – The Gathering (Cancelled for 2020 – we hope to see it return in 2021) –is set to take over the historic Northern Meeting Park for a family-friendly, city centre festival. It will feature a host of the most exciting traditional and folk-based bands from The Highlands and Scotland alongside a line-up of the finest craft food and drink suppliers from the region.
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June Events

June 2021 (Dates TBA) – Mountain Bike World Cup, Fort William – Two great days of competition on the Saturday and Sunday, plus lots of other activities in and around the World Cup Village. The Nevis Range ski area is taken over by the World Cup
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12-21 June 2020 – Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival – This festival is one of the UK’s premier outdoor activity and walking festivals. With 58 organised events to choose from.
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June 2021 (date TBA) – Piping Inverness – 4,000 Pipers Drummers 150 Pipe Bands, 100 Exhibitors. Bught Park Inverness will be alive with pipers and drummers competing in the European Pipe Band Championship
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27& 28 June 2020 – Summer at Eden – Exclusively Highlands bring the finest Arts, Crafts and Food from across Scotland to Eden Court, Inverness and takes place within the beautifully restored Bishop’s Palace.

July Events

3 July 2021 – Forres Highland Games – Traditional Highland Games starts at 12:30 with the opening ceremony with massed Pipe Bands. Followed by all the traditional events and entertainment throughout the day, Including Tug o’ War, Heavy events, Solo Piping, Athletics, Highland dancing Grass Cycling, a road Race and Pipe band competition.
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17 July 2021 (provisional date) – Inverness Highland Games – Held in the centre of Inverness. a must see event that is hugely popular with locals and visitors. Book early if you want to see this magnificent spectacle
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17 July 2021 – Lochcarron Highland Games – Lochcarron Highland Games feature the traditional mixture of heavy events, track and field plus highland dancing and piping displays.
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17 July 2021 – Tomintoul Highland Games – One of Scotland’s longest running Highland Games, showcasing traditional heavy and light events, highland dancing and piping competitions.
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31 July 2021 – Dufftown Highland Games – A taste of something Scottish for everybody. A full programme of Light and Heavy Events.
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30 July – 1 August 2020 – Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival – Held on the Belladrum Estate near Beauly. This is an outdoor music festival for all the family with an eclectic range of music from rock to country, and blues to world music.

August Events

1 August 2020 – Nairn Show – A whole host of entertainment with livestock exhibitions, craft fair, food fair, show jumping, trade stands, cookery demonstrations and much more. A great family day out.
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5 August 2020 – Black Isle Show – Held At Mannsfield Showground, Muir of Ord, Ross-Shire. The biggest agricultural show in the North of Scotland. Book early to avoid disappointment.
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7 August 2020 – Dornoch Highland Gathering – Another hugely enjoyable event held in the picturesque village of Dornoch just a 40-minute drive north of Inverness.
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7 & 8 August 2020 – Highland Field Sports Fair, Moy, Inverness – Entertainment and activity for both young and old. Mainly featuring field sports activities but also competitions such as fly casting, gun dog handling and clay pigeon shooting.
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8 August 2020 – Bright Beauly Fair – Celebrating the best of Highlands & Islands Arts, Crafts, Music & Food.
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8 August 2020 – Strathpeffer Highland Games – Traditional games held at Castle Leod.
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14 August 2021 (provisional date) – Abernethy Highland Games – “The Friendly Games” at Nethy Bridge.
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August 2021 (date TBA) – Nairn Highland Games – A true local Highland games in a fantastic location right beside the fabulous beach.
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22 August 2020 – Glenurquhart Highland Gathering & Games – Another highly popular event held in the small town of Drumnadrochit on the shore of Loch Ness
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27 – 30 August 2020 – Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair – Equestrian sport dominates the four days, competitors ranging from Olympic champions to local Pony Club children and everyone in between
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TBA August 2020 – Thunder in the Glens – The largest Harley Davidson motorbike rally in the UK with around 5000 bikes to see and hear!
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29 August 2020 – Loch Ness Beast Race – A 10k race with rough terrain and awesome obstacles to overcome. Not for the faint-hearted!
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September Events

TBA September 2020 – Motormania – Grantown-on-Spey Around 400 Classic Cars on display, with their owners only too delighted to talk about them. Stands, pipers, Highland dancing.
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TBA for 2020 – Blas Traditional Music Festival – A celebration of traditional music
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5 September 2020 – Carve Carrbridge – Chainsaw Carving Competition.
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8 – 13 September 2020, Nairn Book and arts festival –Nairn’s celebration of literature, drama, art, film, and music beside the Moray Firth
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13 September 2020 – Etape Loch Ness – A cycle sportive taking place around iconic Loch Ness offering the chance to cycle 66 miles / 106 km around the loch on traffic free roads.
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20 September 2020 – Aviemore Triathlon – An exciting, challenging, fun, and a little bit bonkers off-road Swim + Mountain Bike + Trail Run race.
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October to December

3rd & 4th October 2020 -Brodie Castle Autumn Food & Craft Festival – Brodie Castle is the stunning backdrop for an exciting Autumn Food, Craft & Music Festival. Artists and crafters will be demonstrating their skills and wares throughout the castle, the stables and the courtyard. This event is organised by Exclusively Highlands
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4 October 2020 – Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running – Not only a marathon but also 5K and 10K River Ness fun runs. The Marathon takes place along the shores of Loch Ness. Book accommodation early as everywhere gets booked up very quickly.
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23 – 25 October 2020 – Loch Ness Knitfest 2018 – Join us in the heart of the Highlands this Autumn for a festival packed full of knitting wonder
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25 October 2020 – The Culloden Run – The legendary Culloden Battlefield provides the stunning background for a superb running event with historic landmarks at every turn. Runners chose between two race routes; a 10K race or the infamous 17.46k race which pays homage to the Battle of Culloden in 1746
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TBA October 2020 – Halloween Show, Ness Islands – The biggest Halloween Party in the Highlands and a great event for all the family
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5 November 2020 – Civic Bonfire and Firework Display
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20, 21 & 22 November 2020 – Eden 1 Christmas Fair – The first of two Christmas Fairs at Eden Court for the wonderful artisans organised by Exclusively Highlands.
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27, 28 & 29 November 2020 – Brodie Castle Christmas Fair – Brodie Castle is the perfect setting for your Christmas shopping. Exclusively Highlands is organising this fair that includes a range of beautiful crafts, wonderful foods and stunning art.
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11, 12 & 13 December 2020 – Eden 2 Christmas Fair – Once again, Exclusively Highlands will be bringing an exquisite range of stunning Art, original Crafts and totally sumptuous Foods all together under one roof in the lovely setting of Eden Court, Inverness.
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31 December – The Red Hot Highland Fling – We certainly know how to throw a New Years Party.