On Halloween eve, the Beltane Fire Society (BFS) welcomed a sold-out audience to Holyrood Park as its Beltane counter-season festival, the Samhuinn Fire Festival, unfolded on stage at full blaze.
The performances featured large amounts of fire, acrobatics, epic duels between Summer and Winter, and a variety of eccentric, strange character costumes that included a full-winged fire display by our Summer King, Hannah Smith.
Our 2022 Samhuinn Fire Festival would not have been possible without our 200+ volunteers who helped us share a safe and spectacular fire-focused event with the Edinburgh community.
Thank you to all for helping the Society ring in the Celtic new year and honour the new season before us. Happy Samhuinn!
The Beltane Fire Society (BFS) will host its renowned Autumnal celebration in Holyrood Park, bringing more fire, acrobatic stage performances and mystical creatures than ever before …
Starting at 7pm on Halloween Eve, the 2022 Samhuinn Fire Festival will brighten thousands of colourful faces in Holyrood Park with its immersive fire-play performance and ancient Celtic storytelling around Summer’s transition into Winter.
Audience registration is through Citizen Ticket, with full details revealed at check out.
● Visit www.Beltane.org for festival information and updates. High-quality photos are available of past festivals on request.
“The society is excited to be continuing these traditions in Edinburgh, this time on and under Hagg’s Knowe in Holyrood Park,” said 2022 Samhuinn Fire Festival Event Coordinator Tom Watton.
“As our events happen alongside an audience in collective celebration of the changing seasons, we welcome as many people as possible to come in fire-safe guises on this coming Samhuinn night.”
Samhuinn involves 200+ volunteers performing in wild costumes with captivating fire-play, acrobatics and drumming.
This year, the finale will be performed on a raised stage, meaning many more people will witness the festival’s key moments including the fierce duel between our Summer King and Winter King, and the unveiling of the Cailleach.
ABOUT BELTANE FIRE SOCIETY
The Beltane Fire Society is a registered Scottish charity run by volunteers, dedicated to keeping the ancient Celtic calendar alive and sharing skills of street theatre, costume-making, folklore, music and immersive performance. The charity relies on donations from their live events, and there is a suggested £5 donation to attend – or whatever you can afford.
The Samhuinn Fire Festival has been held in Edinburgh since 1995. Its Summer counterpart, Beltane, takes place on Calton Hill on the last day of April each year, and has been running since 1988. The festival celebrates one of the four Celtic quarter day festivals and marks the end of Summer and beginning of Winter.
2022 Samhuinn Fire Festival to take place in Holyrood Park
Large fire stages and a dramatic Arthur’s Seat descent ensures that all attending will have a good experience witnessing Summer’s mystical transition into Winter.
News Facts
● Beltane Fire Society hosting our 2022 Samhuinn Fire Festival in Holyrood Park
● Festival takes place at 19:00 on the evening of Monday 31st October 2022.
● Samhuinn is a unique re-imagining of an ancient festival, celebrating the turn of the seasons and its Celtic New Year.
● A procession of fire, drums and costumed volunteers will make way to the heart of Holyrood Park where characters from ancient lore enact the end of summer and the rise of winter.
● Register for festival with Citizen Ticket, suggested donation £5.00.
● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMiXgZlYz4eTkbL2fAeM80Q We welcome the press to attend and photograph the festival. We will hold a short briefing on the day of Samhuinn at 18:00. Please email comms@beltane.orgif interested in receiving more details.
The funeral service for Her Majesty The Queen will be broadcast live on a big screen in Holyrood Park in front of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The ceremony, which is taking place at Westminster Abbey in London, is scheduled to begin at 11:00am on Monday 19 September.
The City of Edinburgh Council is inviting residents and visitors to attend and pay their final respects to Her Majesty. Entry is free and un-ticketed.
The screening will be of the BBC’s full coverage from 8:00am until 5:00pm.
Lord Lieutenant Cllr Robert Aldridge (below) will be representing the City of Edinburgh at the state funeral.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “This screening represents an opportunity for us all to come together and pay our final respects to The Queen. We all share in the nation’s, and indeed the world’s, grief at the loss of our longest serving monarch. As Her Majesty’s funeral takes place in London, we’re proud to be joining in with screenings and services in towns and cities across the United Kingdom.
“I can think of no more fitting venue for Monday’s screening – in The Queen’s own park on the doorstep of her beloved Palace of Holyroodhouse – and I hope people of all ages will take this opportunity to say their final farewell to Her Majesty.
“Here in Edinburgh, we can take immense pride in the role our city played in the ceremonial events to mark The Queen’s passing and I want to thank the many Council colleagues, partners and volunteers, who each played such a big part in delivering them so gracefully and flawlessly. And to the people of Edinburgh for turning out in their thousands to pay their respects.
“I have no doubt these past few days will be remembered for how brightly Scotland’s capital shone as an example of respect, pride, and professionalism to the world.”
The screening will take place outdoors, so we are advising those wishing to attend to plan ahead, dress for the weather, and bring plenty of water.
Toilet facilities will be available however there will be no seats, so we advise bringing blankets or chairs.
Extra litter bins will be in place and BBQs will not be permitted.
Please note that Queen’s Drive will be closed to general traffic. Disabled parking will be available in Broad Pavement car park on a first come, first served basis.
The travelling public should follow Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams to stay informed about their services on the day of the funeral.
From Girl Power … to Power Walking! As the internationally renowned Spice Girls finished ‘zig-a-zig-ah-ing’ their fans in Edinburgh on Saturday night, another extravaganza was hitting the streets of the Capital – The MoonWalk Scotland! Continue reading From Girl Power to Power Walking: MoonWalk Scotland 2019
Holyrood Park will be closed to vehicle traffic on Bonfire Night – Saturday 5th November – from 6pm until Midnight. Throughout the evening Historic Environment Scotland, who manage the Park, will have the Park’s Ranger Team carrying out shared patrols with Police Scotland and the Fire and Rescue Service. Continue reading No vehicles in Holyrood Park on Bonfire Night
The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information a cat was abandoned in its carrier on a busy Edinburgh Street. Scotland’s animal welfare charity was alerted on Saturday (8 October) when the cat was discovered next to Holyrood Park in the city centre.Continue reading Cat found dumped in Holyrood Park
Want to get involved in something a bit out of the ordinary next month? Arts charity NVA’s Speed of Light project (part of Edinburgh International Festival and London 2012 Festival) takes place from Thursday 9 August – Saturday 1 September, and there are still a number of free places available for schools or community groups to be part of this huge event on Arthurs Seat!e members.
You could be a runner or a walking member, or groups can also take up a range of volunteer posts to experience the dynamic, behind-the-scenes environment..
What is Speed of Light?
Cast yourself in this year’s most extraordinary performance!
This August Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat is the stage for a remarkable fusion of public art and sporting endeavour. The iconic volcano is brought to life in a mass choreographed act of walking and endurance running, as part of Edinburgh International Festival and London 2012 Festival.
As a member of the walking audience you become part of the work, carrying portable light sources set against the dark features of the hill. A mesmerising visual display unfolds each night on your ascent to the summit as hundreds of runners wearing specially designed light suits take to the intricate path networks below.
Each individual performance is created by collective action, landscape and weather, offering a rare perspective on the cityscape, night skies and the sea and hills beyond. NVA’s Speed of Light is one of only four national projects, commissioned as part of Legacy Trust UK’s Community Celebrations programme, which aims to build a lasting legacy from the UK’s hosting of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The wider programme extends across eight of Edinburgh’s festivals throughout 2012 with a series of blogs, lectures, events and discussions investigating environmental art, human endurance and the interior experience of running.
How can you get involved?
There are a variety of ways in which your group can get involved with Speed of Light. A number of free places are available for schools and community groups to take part as runners or as walking audience members. Your group could also take up volunteer posts to experience the dynamic behind-the-scenes environment of this large-scale event.
This is an excellent chance for everyone to participate in an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Arthur’s Seat illuminated at night, and to be part of Scotland’s official artistic contribution to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games celebrations.
Details of all the opportunities as well as registration forms – to be completed and returned to us – are available to download below on the Speed of Life website at www.speedoflight2012.org.uk If you would like to discuss your requirements, please just get in touch with the Speed of Light team.
Dates available for groups to run and walk:
• Wed 22 August 2012
• Thu 23 August 2012
• Wed 29 August 2012
• Thu 30 August 2012
Dates for volunteers:
Volunteers will be required to commit to several dates in August depending on the role undertaken. For full details subscribe to the Speed of Light mailing list and visit the Volunteer page.
Audience tickets are now on sale at www.eif.co.uk.
