VisitShetland

Cultural Events

There are several events which have well and truly become part of Shetland culture:

Up Helly Aa

On the last Tuesday every January Lerwick is host to the UK's largest fire-festival, "Up Helly Aa". Around 900 colourfully dressed "guizers" follow the Jarl's squad of Vikings and their long-ship through the darkened streets of Lerwick, all carrying burning torches. The ceremony ends spectacularly as the hundreds of flaming torches are thrown into the ship.

Musical Events

Three major festivals celebrating Shetland's musical culture stand out for special mention.

The annual Shetland Folk Festival, held in spring, sees the islands taken over by some of the best folk music the world has to offer. The event is so prestigious that the Rough Guide to Scotland 20006 placed the festival in the top 10 Visitor Attractions in Scotland.

Held over a hectic four-day period in mid-October, the Accordion & Fiddle Festival sees musicians from all over the world perform using Shetland's two most popular instruments - the accordion and the fiddle.

A must for all fans of traditional music is the Shetland Fiddle Frenzy - a fiddle school with a difference in that it's more of a fiddle and cultural festival than singularly a fiddle school.

Sailing Races

Shetland continues to have a close affinity with the sea and is on the map for two ocean racing events - the annual Shetland Races, and the Round Britain and Ireland Race which is held every four years.

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2008 Wildlife Holidays In Shetland

Shetland offers the best wildlife-watching in Scotland - FACT.

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Visit our extensive website www.shetlandwildlife.co.uk or call Shetland Wildlife on 01950 422483 for a choice of over 30 holidays!

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Swan Trips 2008

Enjoy a trip on the Swan this summer and experience the world of a resilient vessel restored to glory. Join a crew who love the sea, and be part of a learning experience!

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Sunday Times article

Feature

Focus on Wildlife - Spring 2008

Fair Isle is famous in spring for its huge seabird colonies and rare migrants. Shetland birder Hugh Harrop is your expert guide on the ‘Mecca’ of British birding…

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Feature

White Nights

'White Nights', Ann Cleeves' sequel to her award-winning 'Raven Black', has now been published.  Don't miss a reading and signing from Ann in the Lerwick tourist office, Market Cross at 11.30am on Saturday 17th May.

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21st Century Shetland Travelogue

'Between Weathers', the new Shetland Travelogue will be launched in Lerwick on 6th June 2008... 

 

 

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News

Shetland's First Ever Festival of Nature

Organisers of Shetland’s first ever Festival of Nature, to be piloted from 4th to 12th July 2008, are calling on local businesses...

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