Festivals in Inverness: planning a visit around event dates

Check an event’s official schedule before you make plans, because dates and practical arrangements differ between festivals. For a particular weekend, look for the organiser’s current programme and confirm the venue, entry details and any transport information before setting out.

Some event listings are published well ahead of time, while details such as dates or access arrangements may be confirmed later. If you’re planning around the Inverness Music Festival, its focus is local amateur performers of all ages and experience levels; the festival says it has welcomed groups and individuals for more than 100 years.

For the Inverness Highland Games, check the event’s own guidance for entry, shuttle and parking details. For seasonal celebrations, verify the schedule closer to your visit. Check the official site before you go.

The Inverness Highland Games at Bught Park begin with gates opening at 10:30, followed by competitions at 11:00 and an opening ceremony at 12:00. The closing ceremony is scheduled for 18:00, though it may start later if competitions run over. Bught Park is about a 10-minute walk from Glen Mhor.

Last entry is at 16:00. You can leave and re-enter with your arrival wristband. Limited parking is available on site on a first-come, first-served basis, and traffic may delay entry and departure. A complimentary shuttle bus runs from 10:00 to 18:00 between the front of Highland Council Headquarters on Glenurquhart Road and Bught Park.

Glass is not permitted, apart from prescription medicines in glass containers. No strobe lighting is planned, but loud noises may occur during some competitions. Mobile-phone signal may be slower at busy times, and there are no phone-charging facilities.

The Bught Park visitor guide covers the venue and access.

Eden Court brings film screenings and stage events together in Inverness, and it is the venue for the Inverness Film Festival. Check the venue’s programme for the events scheduled during your visit, then confirm ticket availability and performance details with the organiser.

The Eden Court visitor guide explains more about the theatre and cinema.

Inverness’s Christmas lights switch-on usually takes place on a Sunday in late November. Since the exact date can vary, check the event schedule before choosing a visit around the celebration.

The Inverness Music Festival offers another strand of the city’s events calendar: a local showcase for amateur performers, open to people of all ages and experience levels. Its long-running history makes it distinct from a single performance or venue programme, so check its current arrangements if you plan to attend.

For events at Bught Park, the complimentary shuttle and limited on-site parking are the key transport details to check. If you plan to drive, allow for possible delays entering and leaving the site; if you use the shuttle, note its stated operating hours and pick-up point.

For a city-centre performance at Eden Court, confirm the event’s current schedule and access arrangements before you set your plans.

What time do the Inverness Highland Games start?

Gates open at 10:30, competitions begin at 11:00 and the opening ceremony starts at 12:00.

Can you leave and re-enter the Highland Games?

Yes. You can leave and re-enter using your arrival wristband. Last entry is at 16:00.

Where is the Inverness Film Festival held?

The Inverness Film Festival is held at Eden Court, which also programmes stage events.

When does the Inverness Christmas lights switch-on usually happen?

It usually takes place on a Sunday in late November. Check the schedule for the date of the event you plan to attend.