The Beltane Fire Festival is set to mark its 25th anniversary this Monday (30th April), with a spectacular celebration in Scotland’s capital. Around 12,000 revellers are expected to gather on Edinburgh’s Calton Hill as over 300 performers and members of the Beltane Fire Society unite to create a truly dramatic carnival of fire and light to welcome the blossoming of summer.
Each year, the Beltane Fire Festival celebrates our connections to nature and the seasons with a mix of traditions and rituals of both ancient Celtic and modern day culture, drawing huge crowds to Calton Hill. Organisers are pulling out all the stops to make the 25th anniversary celebration a truly special occasion, and have created a new performance space surrounded by a ring of fire sculptures, which will feature a breath-taking performance by fire drummers.
The festival will get underway at 8pm on Monday, when eye-catching fire sculptures will illuminate the hill and colourful performers will roam amongst the crowds. As darkness falls, spectators will gather at the Acropolis for the arrival of the May Queen, who will lead a procession of fire performers around Calton Hill.
The Neid fire on the Parthenon will then be lit to a backdrop of fire and drums before the procession continues around the hill. The Red Men and their Beastie Drummers will ambush the court before the Green Man is ritually killed by the May Queen, stripped of his winter guise and resurrected in his spring guise. The evening will conclude with a sensational finale as the fire performers and Red Men join together for a second incredible fire performance.
Founded in 1988, the Beltane Fire Festival began as a word of mouth event, inspired by the Scottish and Irish Gaelic pre-Christian festival of the same name. Originally, the Beltane festival was held to mark and celebrate the blossoming of summer and was thought to have been held on the first full moon after the 1st of May.
Chair of Beltane Fire Society, Matthew Richardson, said: “Monday marks a significant milestone for the Beltane Fire Festival as we celebrate our 25th anniversary. It’s amazing to think how the festival has grown in size and stature since its inception in 1988, and it promises to be a very special occasion for everyone involved. We can't wait to amaze and inspire visitors to our festival with its unique combination of fire, music, dance and celebration.”
The acclaimed Scottish singer and folklorist Margaret Bennett has joined the bill for the late-night Grand May Day Ceilidh at The Caves. She will be presenting the music of the late, great Martyn Bennett from the album AYE - a new compilation of the pioneering musician’s best loved tunes plus previously unreleased tracks which has been several years in the making. With the world renowned ceilidh taking place in the Main Vault, the night will also feature reggae, dubstep, drum ‘n’ bass, house and techno from Riddim Tuffa, Bass Alliance, Anonymi (live set), Covalent, Nisha Pannu and C.H.I.L.L.Y & P.J, with various drum crews from the festival taking part in dusk til dawn drumming.
Tickets Advance tickets for on the hill are on sale priced from £5 (plus Booking Fee).
Tickets can be bought from:
The Hub Ticket Office
Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2NE, +44(0)131 473 2000
Can I get more Tickets on the night ?
A limited number of tickets will be available on the night. These tickets will cost £8.00 and will only be available from Calton Hill’s Carriage Drive entrance, on Regent Road. We have sold out in previous years so strongly recommend advance booking!
Times
Gates open at 8Pm and the first things will start to happen at 8.30pm.
8.30pm – Parliament Light – A percussive delicacy from Waa Sylla
8.45pm – 9.15pm – ‘the Path of Winter’ – Watch several performance groups in their winter states (all over the hill)
9.15 – 9.30pm – The Crone Cocoons – the dying embodiment of winter cocoons and transforms into The May Queen!
9.30pm – 9.45pm – THE NEID FIRE is lit – the Acropolis is brought to life with fire and the May Queen is Born!
9.45pm – midnight – The Procession – in order to persuade the Horned God to cast off winter and embrace summer – the May Queen and her court take the Green Man on a merry dance into the spirit world. They take with them the light from the Neid Fire and the May Queen corrals the Elements (Fire, Water, Earth, Air & Aether) as they transform the world into Summer. The Horned God casts off winter and transforms into an adventurous Fool, tempted by Fire and Lust. He dies and is given the gift of new life by the May Queen.
Midnight – The Bonfire Is lit – Summer is here and the Party is Getting Started.
The White Women (The May Queens personal court) anf the Red Men (renowned for their energy) dance at the bower as the spectacular Beltane Fire Festival draws to a close.
