Jetsettersblog

Scotland’s Islands autumn & winter 2011 events

Celebrate island culture and heritage this autumn and winter with an action-packed line-up of exciting events as part of the Year of Scotland’s Islands festivities.

Shetland Food Festival
Shetland Mainland
5-13 November 2011

A celebration of mouth-watering Shetland produce, including some more unusual specialities such as seawater oatcakes, Shetland Black potatoes and more-ish fudge!

Food lovers’ events include cookery demonstrations, producers’ markets and Christmas craft fair. There’s also a ‘Ready, Steady, Shetland’ cook-off, where Shetlanders present their take on the popular TV programme, Ready, Steady, Cook.
http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/440/shetland-food-festival

Harris Tweed – Past, Present and Future (celebrating the centenary of the Orb 1911-2011)
Lewis
18 November 2011
This one-day event marks the centenary of the orb by reviewing the history of this vitally important and distinctive island industry with a variety of engaging talks, poetry, film, story-telling and discussion sessions.

Arranged by the Island Book Trust in conjunction with the Harris Tweed Authority, the event will bring together people from different backgrounds to celebrate the island’s successes and achievements and reflecting on the current and future challenges it faces.

http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/536/harris-tweed—past-present-and-future-(celebrating-the-centenary-of-the-orb-1911-2011)

The Ba
Kirkwall, Orkney mainland
25 December 2011 and 01 January 2012

Forget about running with the bulls in Pamplona, for a truly fierce street sport, visitors should head to Orkney on either Christmas morning or New Year’s Day to watch in the annual Ba’ competition. Starting outside the majestic St Magnus Cathedral before raging through the streets of Kirkwall, The Ba’ is a traditional game of street rugby with participants from the opposing teams, The Uppies and The Doonies fight over the much prizes locally handmade leather Ba’ (ball). Spectators are welcome but be careful!
www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/491/the-ba

Up Helly Aa
Shetland mainland
31 January 2012

Shetland’s biggest fire festival, Up Helly Aa, celebrates Shetland’s history with a series of re-enactments, culminating in a torch lit procession and Viking Galley burning.

Considering it’s held in mid-winter on the same latitude as southern Greenland, Up Helly Aa has never been cancelled
http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/434/up-helly-aa

Papay Gyro Nights 2012 Art Festival
Pap Westray, Orkney
6-13 February 2012

Papay Gyro Nights is an international film and video art, contemporary art, music and architecture festival based on folklore and tradition of Orkney. The Festival takes place in unique and remote settings on the island of Papa Westray. The idea of the festival has originated from the ancient Papay tradition of the Night of The Gyros. The Festival is also a reflection the island’s landscape and heritage as well as interpretation of tradition and ritual.
http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/274/papay-gyro-nights-2012-art-festival

For more information on the Scotland’s Islands initiative visit: www.scotlandsislands.com