Traditional date
Fire tradition · Scotland
Biggar Hogmanay Bonfire
Biggar, South Lanarkshire
A piped torchlit procession leads to a huge bonfire on Biggar High Street at Hogmanay.
31 December 2026
ROUND-UP GUIDE · 8 EVENTS
Odd things near Edinburgh.
Edinburgh's Beltane takes over Calton Hill. South Queensferry brings the Burryman and the Loony Dook, while Lanark, Biggar and Kirkcaldy hold celebrations of their own beyond the city. Between them you've got several kinds of outing, from a funfair to a winter bonfire.
Choose one event and test the journey from wherever you're staying. Being on this list doesn't guarantee an easy evening trip back, especially at Hogmanay or New Year. Check the current programme, public-transport timetable and access arrangements; ticketed events and community processions need quite different planning. Read the full guide before you treat an out-of-town celebration as a day trip.
At a glance
- Biggar Hogmanay Bonfire 31 December 2026 · Biggar, South Lanarkshire Stay nearby ↗
- Loony Dook 1 January 2027 · South Queensferry, Edinburgh Stay nearby ↗
- Whuppity Scoorie 1 March 2027 · Lanark, South Lanarkshire Stay nearby ↗
- Beltane Fire Festival 30 April 2027 · Calton Hill, Edinburgh Stay nearby ↗
- Lanimer Day 10 June 2027 · Lanark, South Lanarkshire Stay nearby ↗
- Burntisland Highland Games 19 July 2027 · Burntisland, Fife Stay nearby ↗
- The Burryman 13 August 2027 · South Queensferry, Edinburgh Stay nearby ↗
- Links Market Six days from a Wednesday in mid-April · Kirkcaldy, Fife Stay nearby ↗
STAY OVER
Base yourself in Edinburgh
Rooms near the big nights go early. Compare places to stay and check cancellation terms.
Find a place to stay on Booking.com ↗
Traditional date
Festive swim · Scotland
Loony Dook
South Queensferry, Edinburgh
Costumed dookers parade through South Queensferry, then plunge into the Firth of Forth.
1 January 2027
Traditional date
Folk tradition · Scotland
Whuppity Scoorie
Lanark, South Lanarkshire
Lanark children welcome spring with paper balls, a bell and three laps of the kirk.
1 March 2027
Traditional date
Fire tradition · Scotland
Beltane Fire Festival
Calton Hill, Edinburgh
Drummers, fire and the May Queen's procession welcome summer on Edinburgh's Calton Hill.
30 April 2027
Traditional date
Ceremony & pageantry · Scotland
Lanimer Day
Lanark, South Lanarkshire
Lanark crowns its Lanimer Queen amid bands, riders and a parade of decorated lorries.
10 June 2027
Traditional date
Traditional games · Scotland
Burntisland Highland Games
Burntisland, Fife
Track events, Highland dancing and heavy competitions share Burntisland’s seaside arena.
19 July 2027
Traditional date
Folk tradition · Scotland
The Burryman
South Queensferry, Edinburgh
A man clad head to toe in sticky burrs walks seven miles round South Queensferry for luck.
13 August 2027
Usually April
Folk tradition · Scotland
Links Market
Kirkcaldy, Fife
A funfair close to a mile long fills Kirkcaldy's seafront Esplanade for six days each April.
Six days from a Wednesday in mid-April
“Stay nearby” links go to Booking.com, and each event guide also has train links. These are affiliate links — what that means.