Festivals and Major Events held in Pitlochry
Pitlochry has over the years established a number of festival and major events that have become part of the yearly calendar, drawing many visitors to the town each year. We felt we should highlight these here on this page to give you a flavour of what is being offered.
Pitlochry New Year’s Day Street Ceilidh -
The New Year celebration was started by Pitlochy’s Community Council to mark the new millennium in 2000.
It was such a success that it has continued and grown year on year, with some 2,000 to 3,000 people participating each year. Atholl Road, Pitlochry’s main street, is closed to traffic from 2pm to 4pm on New Year’s Day and everyone literally
Ceilidhs
. The local Butchers MacDonalds Bros supply gallons of hot soup, sausage rolls, pies which are free of charge but are funded by a donations with a bucket at the end of the table to help fund next year’s supply. An extremely good way to start the New Year.
Etape Caledonia Closed Road Cycle Challange
Is Britain’s first and currently only closed road timed cycle event which is open to the ordinary cyclist and is the equivalent event to a marathon for those thousands who jog. The route takes in 81 miles of Highland Perthshire, starting and finishing in Pitlochry. The event brings in many people to Highland Perthshire for the first time to cycle in our clean air and our breath-taking scenery. The 2008 Etape Caledonia event takes place on the morning of Sunday 18th May.
Major Events Committee
Pitlochry is very fortunate to have a group of people whose sole aim is to try and attract a major event to Pitlochry each year. These events have included the British Pipe Band Championships in 2003 and 2006, the massed Canadian Pipe Bands in 2007 for a daylong piping extravaganza.
The Highland
Open Golf Competitions.
These are prestigious competitions and bring entries from all over the
world.
More details from Mark Pirie - pro@pitlochrygolf.co.uk
Highland Mixed Open - 1 to 6 June 2008
The Ladies Highland Open - 7 to 11 July
The Gents Highland Open - Sunday 3 to 8 August - www.thehighlandopen.com
The Pitlochry Highland Games
These games were first held on the 10th September 1852 and have been held annually except for the period of the World Wars. The Pitlochry Highland Games Committee have always tried to make sure the games are run along the lines of a traditional Highland Games with competitors coming from all over Scotland and further afield to participate. Pitlochry Highland Games takes place in 2008 on Saturday 13th September, at its usual Recreation Ground venue in Pitlochry, Perthshire.
Perthshire Amber
‘The Dougie MacLean Festival’ – Pitlochry is very fortunate to be the base for this fabulous music festival of one of Perthshire’s finest musicians. The event takes place for 10 days in a variety of venues across Highland Perthshire each autumn. People come from all around the world to the festival. Concerts, open mic, workshops, walks and spontaneous music sessions! Friday 24th Oct- Sunday 2nd November 2008
The Enchanted Forest
This extremely popular event runs for 17 nights at the end of October each year with an extravaganza of lighting and music as you walk through the woods. Some 17,000 people attend the event each year. (Friday 17th October to Sunday 2nd November 2008)
The Pitlochry Autumn Festival
Runs on the same nights as the Enchanted Forest until 8pm each night. Its prime purpose was to add to the experience of those who came to Pitlochry each year for the Enchanted Forest, by having a number of events actually in Pitlochry’s main street, these include street entertainers, Halloween Marquee, Story Telling Yurt,
Tours, and a treasure hunt. (17th November to 2nd November 2008).
Winter Words Festival
"Where Scotland's literary year gets into gear!" (The Scotsman). Held at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in January, this four day festival of literature and the spoken word brings together authors, journalists, poets and even the odd politician for an entertaining and enlightening series of talks, lunches, workshops, book signings and events for children.
