There’s always a lot going on in east Perthshire, and as most people know, we love a good celebration here in Scotland.
In Blairgowrie, we start the year as we mean to go on – with the New Year’s Day Fun Run, when hundreds of local people gather in the town for a three-mile run or walk. It is a real community event as folk get together to blow away the cobwebs of the night before and put their best foot forward for the year to come.
There’s a whole calendar of events throughout the year, from the Coupar Angus Snowdrop Festival in February to the panto in December.
Alyth Musical Society hosts their annual spring show in April, while June sees the popular Alyth and District Agricultural Show when hundreds of local farmers show off their livestock. There’s also the Rattray Half-Marathon and the Cateran Yomp for those keen to test their endurance and fitness levels.
Blairgowrie Rugby Club holds a popular rugby 10s and ale festival in August which, as well as sport and food and drink, also features live music and great craic.
August is also Highland Games season in Glenisla and Strathardle, with Blairgowrie and Rattray hosting their Games on the first Sunday in September.
Perthshire Open Studios, a region-wide celebration of all-things arts-related, takes place in September. Hundreds of artists from across Perthshire take part, showcasing their wares to thousands of visitors over what is a very busy fortnight.
October is BOOKMARK festival time, and the weekend-long Blairgowrie, Rattray and the Glens book festival has welcomed such well-known writers as Denise Mina, Alan Johnson, Maggie O’Farrell, James Robertson, Martin Bell, Sally Magnussen and Ali Smith through its doors over the years, as well as well-known book lover Nicola Sturgeon, to its literary celebration.
There are Hallowee’en and Bonfire night celebrations in the autumn to brighten the darker evenings, and further celebrations to mark the birthday of one of east Perthshire’s unsung heroes, Blairgowrie-born Hamish Henderson – the poet, songwriter, communist, intellectual, soldier and accomplished folk song collector who is widely credited as being the catalyst for the folk revival in Scotland.
We love a good party here in east Perthshire and we love to celebrate our rich history and culture.
Check out our events calendar to find out what’s going on during your stay here.
