30 April – Every year (Cancelled 2020)
Beltane Fire Festival is a modern reinterpretation of an ancient Celtic festival marking the changing seasons.
The largest of its kind, it started as a local community event in 1988.
It has grown from a small local event to one that now attracts attendees in the thousands.
A celebration of the natural cycle of birth, growth and death.
The procession starts from the National Monument.
The drums beat as the procession, led by the May Queen and the Green Man, makes its way to its destination.
Depicting the awakening of the May Queen, whose fires chase away winter, the theatre performance is next.
Stripped of his winter guise, the Green Man is reborn as summer.
Loosely translated, Beltane means ‘bright fire’ and that’s what you’ll see when the bonfire is lit.
Drums, theatre, fire, pageantry – it’s an exciting experience.
When: 30 April – Every year (Cancelled 2020)
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Map: Calton Hill, Edinburgh on Google Maps
Official website: beltane.org
Hotels: Hotels in Edinburgh
Apex Waterloo Place Hotel within easy walking distance from Princes Street to all the major sights of Edinburgh and only 300 meters to Calton Hill, the venue of Beltane fire festival.
It offers luxury rooms, a great restaurant, fitness room, spa and swimming-pool
Beltane Fire Festival is a ticketed event which takes place on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, on 30th April every year – from 8 pm to 1.30 am.
Enter by Waterloo Place.
Edinburgh is well-known as a festival city with 2017 being the year Edinburgh marks the 70th anniversary of its festivals with a year-long celebration.
In August, there are six major festivals alone.
The skyline is dominated by the world-famous Edinburgh Castle, which sits on its perch on Castle Rock looking down over the city.
This historic fortress offers a magnificent point to view Edinburgh and its surroundings.
Together the Medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town form a World Heritage Site.
Both are wonderful places to stroll around and take in the architectural styles of the historical buildings.
