Top Scottish Virtual Events

North Berwick Highland Games

This year our great events and festivals are conquering the online world to bring to you the best virtual and digital events, so you don’t have to miss out.

Throughout the year Scotland’s cities, towns and villages host eclectic and welcoming events of all genres, interests and themes that everyone can get involved in and enjoy. From adrenaline pumping sporting events, and captivating storytelling pop-ups, to toe-tapping music festivals, and educational talks and workshops, there’s plenty to explore.

Here are just some we know you’ll love, but keep checking back for more additions.

Arts & Culture

• Watch mesmerising performances by Scottish Ballet, or join in a live fitness dance class with them on Facebook, Monday to Friday, at 11:30am.
• Gather around the virtual ‘campfire’ with Marjolein Robertson, a comedian, storyteller and Edinburgh Festival veteran. Join her each evening as she live streams Shetland folktales and shares hilarious stories about her experiences performing.
• Join in with the Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s online series featuring poetry, storytelling, music and children’s workshops.
• You don’t have to miss out on exciting theatre performances while at home. The National Theatre of Scotland is bringing you spectacular events and online workshops to explore and get involved in:
  – Scenes for Survival – a new season of over 40 digital artworks created in response to the current Covid-19 outbreak.
  – Makar to Makar – join in a new series of live streamed conversation, spoken word, poetry and music gigs from Jackie Kay, showcasing literary talent from Scotland and around the world.
• Orkney International Science Festival– 3 – 9 Sept. Join in the virtual 30th anniversary festival celebration featuring talks, outings, walks, workshops, and events with music, or food and drink and a special focus on the Year of Coasts & Water.
• LGBTI+ Elders Social Dance Club– Dust off your dancing shoes, charge your glasses and get ready for ONLINE DANCE CLUB! We might not be able to meet in person but we can use the magic of technology to connect, chat and boogie.
• Wigtown Book Festival – 25 Sept – 4 Oct. This event is every book enthusiast’s dream, with hundreds of like-minded people, as well as authors, poets, literary geniuses and more. Delve into the captivating online festival which will cover two main themes Resilience and Connection. As well as live online speaker events, the 2020 festival will feature its usual mix of art exhibitions, film events, music and performance.
• The Tartan Noir Show – get sucked into the world of crime writing with Theresa Talbot in these gripping and intense weekly podcasts. Exploring the very best of the genre, the podcasts will feature some incredible works from a variety of renowned names, such as Val McDermid, Denise Mina, Ian Rankin and many more.
• Doors Open Days – September. Join in with Scotland’s biggest free festival of architecture which will be bring a whole host of tours, lectures, DIY learning events and more.
• Tune in to the digital concert of Nicola Benedetti performing Bruch’s Violin Concerto with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra recorded at Perth Concert Hall. Head over to their YouTube Channel, or Facebook, to watch on 24 September.
• Bloody Scotland – 17 – 20 September. Scotland’s crime writing festival is back and is bringing to you an online programme of various events, including their biggest ever panel of 27 authors across 5 continents.
• Scottish International Storytelling Festival – 17 – 31 October. The Scottish International Storytelling Festival is keeping audiences ‘In the Flow’ with an eclectic mix of online events spanning across the globe and small scale face-to-face events, celebrating Scotland ‘a nation shaped by water’, taking you on voyages at home and away.
• Spring Fling Open Studios – 5 – 12 October. This year the events will be largely online, with a few studios opening their doors (dependent on Government guidelines). Virtually experience around 80 studios, enjoy online workshops and specially commissioned videos. Stay tuned for more info.

Highland games

• Braemar Highland Games– 12 September. Join in with an online extravaganza that will see pipe bands, traditional events, Highland dancing, races and more. Although we can’t be there to cheer on the competitors in person, this virtual event will be energetic it will make you feel like you’re amidst all the action.

Scottish history

• The town of Hawick will celebrate the Common Riding season with three online concerts featuring guest appearances and musical talent. This event has passed but you can still watch the live streams on Facebook.
• Prestonpans 275 – 19 – 21 September. Tune in to this online festival to mark the 275th anniversary of the Battle of Prestonpans and 300th anniversary of the birth of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Enjoy events which include a specially prepared evening of music and storytelling, a programme of talks and a commemoration ceremony

Music

• Tune in to YouTube and witness the musical mastery of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra as its members perform in isolation with home videos and live streams to watch whenever you like.
• Nevis Ensemble – The incredible Nevis Ensemble is putting together Musical Postcards which will consist of 2-minute-long works for solo instruments that are inspired and influenced by photography of Scotland’s coasts and waters sent in by you!

If you fancy getting into the great outdoors to explore some of Scotland’s stunning scenery and learn about how the land has been shaped by the elements over the millennia, why not get involved in the Scottish Geology Festival?

Explore more virtual and live streaming events of all genres and topics to keep you busy with The List.