Welcome to the Oban Winter Festival!
Back in 2011, a small group of locals decided that the start of winter was a great excuse to have a festival. They organized a Victorian Market to run alongside the Reindeer parade, ice rink, Comedy nights, music workshops for children, cocktails for the grown-ups, and a ceilidh or two – all of which made the festival a great success. News spread quickly and the next year people came from further afield to join the festivities. Festival action takes place mainly in town and getting from place to place is very easy. Oban is quite compact and walking is a fantastic way to get around. Discover the great shopping, bars and restaurants that make this town tick; take a tour of the local distillery and sample our national drink, or a relaxing coffee in one of our many cafes, soaking up the beautiful view of the bay. Events vary each day from family favourites like the Reindeer parade and Christmas light switch-on to the ceilidhs and light shows. There is all manner of accommodation options for your stay here, from apartments in the town centre, to hotels and intimate bed and breakfasts, along with some of the finest food and wine establishments that this town boasts. Last year, 2017, saw a phenomenal footfall of 21,500 people with an estimated economic impact for the town of over £1,900,000. Douglas Scott, Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Associations said: ‘ The Golden Haggis Awards has grown into the most significant, second only to our own Championship which happens every two years.’ - So why not come and join the biggest winter party in the West.