Taking place on Calton Hill on the evening of 30 April, Beltane Fire Festival is a modern reinterpretation of an ancient Iron Age Celtic ritual celebrating the first signs of summer.
Acrobatics, drummers, dancers, clowns, musicians, actors and puppeteers all take to the outdoor space of Calton Hill in an awe-inspiring cavalcade of dancing, music and theatre as the May Queen entices the Green Man from his wintry guise to rule together over the summer months.
Today’s Festival is inspired by the ancient Gaelic festival of Beltane which began on the evening before 1 May and marked the beginning of summer. Having been resurrected and reinterpreted as a practice in 1988, it has become a popular event for the city and is Europe’s largest ritual celebration of this ancient Celtic tradition.
As this is an outdoor event, please dress according to the weather conditions. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult with a ticket.
Wheelchair access is via the accessible entrance on Carriage Drive, but please note that there are no viewing platforms and limited static performances. Some hard standing is available but the grassed area of the hill can be uneven. A wheelchair-accessible toilet will be available in the central car park.
For more information and to book tickets go to Beltane Fire Festival.
