Wanting to get a head start on your Christmas shopping?
Then what better than the Oban Winter Festival. Running from the 18th to 27th November, the Oban Winter Festival is one of the many winter festivals taking place across Scotland. Now it is fifth year, the Festival is a well established feature in the local calendar.
It began with local businesses pulling together to create a Victorian Christmas Market to celebrate the start of winter and to accompany the traditional Reindeer Parade and Christmas lights switch-on. The festival has grown in both size and content with many and varied events running alongside fantastic shopping opportunities in the compact Oban town centre.
The festival offers almost daily whisky tastings from the fantastic local distilleries, allowing you to get a taste of what you might end up buying for the festive season. Whisky evenings are also available. Most of these are ticketed events so please check the festival website to book.
The Oban Winter Festival is not only about shopping. Events range from arts and drama, to comedy nights and theatre plays throughout the festival period, as well as historical exhibitions, with enriching tours of the War and Peace Museum.
Music is also high up on the agenda with Gaelic singing workshops and concerts. The Oban Pipe Band will be performing at a Ceilidh – the perfect time to learn some traditional Scottish dances, or to brush up on some of your rusty steps!
If you want to find out about local crafts, then this weekend will be a treat with a Scottish Food & Craft Market. There is quite literally something for everyone, with little ones also being taken care of with special play areas, Christmas crafts and circus crafts sessions. If you fancy a little bit of relaxation time away from the crowds, you might want to try the Unique Camper Van Tour, a couple of hours around Oban and the area. Please call to book on 07769637754.
The festival finale takes place in the evening on Sunday 27th November, with pyrotechnics and illuminations of Oban’s most famous landmark, McCaig’s Tower. An event not to be missed!
Oban is not far from us so come and stay these next few days to discover some of what this fantastic part of the world has to offer. Enjoy some time at the Winter Festival before returning here to put your feet up and relax.
Happy festival!