| Where: | Peebles, Peeblesshire -Ride Out from the Church |
| When: | 3rd Week in June with Rideout on Wednesday and Crowning & Grand Procession on Saturday |
| Time: | Ride Out 6.15pm, Crowning 10am,Procession 11.45am |
The Beltane Festival in Peebles is a week-long celebration combining a typical Common Riding custom with the Beltane Fair which dates back four hundred years and marks the longest days of summer. Major events in the schedule include the main Common Riding on the Wednesday evening from 6.15 starting at the Church followed by races and the Beltane Fair on the Saturday; this includes the reading of the Proclamation at the Mercat Cross and the Coronation of the Beltane Queen at the Church Steps as well as a huge Grand Procession including equestrians from the early morning Rideout, literally hundreds of children in fancy dress, the Court party and lots of pipers and brass bands to intersperse the floats. During the coronation expect fanfares, curtseying, the singing of the Beltane Festal Song and Coronation Ode and the coronation of the Beltane Queen by the Crowning Lady.Other events include sports, concerts, fancy dress and bands throughout the week.
Helpful Hints
In 2024 the dates were Sunday 16th to Saturday 22nd June with Red Letter Day and Crowning on Saturday 22nd- 2025 dates are yet to be confirmed.
Programmes are available with complete details of the festival and its history. It takes about 20 minutes for the procession to pass, then it turns and comes back along the High Street so you get to see both sides of the carriages and floats. Watch out for flying sweets thrown to the children and the mad scramble to pick up fallen missiles!
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Peebles-Beltane-Festival-224802844217569/
Hello
As a resident of Peebles, I thoroughly enjoyed this year’s Beltane celebrations. I would like to put myself forward as a volunteer to help on a float next year if possible. Including preparing it etc. I don’t know how to go about it so any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.
Regards
Vaughan Lewis
Hi Vaughan,
Here at calendarcustoms we’re not connected to the organisation of the festival – but if you follow the link to http://www.peeblesbeltanefestival.co.uk/html/contact.html there is a pageful of contact emails for you to follow up and I’m sure they’ll be very pleased to hear from you!
Best Wishes,
Averil