Record number of entries signed up for Oban’s Highlands and Islands festival
Thousands of visitors are expected to come to the 2018 Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival in May and spend more than £2m.
Festival chairperson Breege Smyth said this year’s festival is set to be a landmark event, giving tourism and the local economy a huge boost.
Figures from festival organisers estimate attendees to the event will spend £2,183,000 over the weekend. Among that is £950,000 spent on overnight accommodation, £680,000 on food and beverage, £540,000 in local shops and £13,000 on ferries, trains, taxis and buses.
A record number of performers are getting ready to showcase their talents in 125 competitions between May 4 and 6, from Highland dancers, fiddlers, pipers, pianists, accordion and clarsach players, not forgetting woodwind and brass musicians, all at venues throughout Oban.
Organisers have also received the first entry from Germany, with other performers coming from far and wide across Scotland, from places such as Campbeltown to Edinburgh, Dingwall and Skye.
The Saturday will see live music in Station Square from 11am in conjunction with local Oban FM 103.3.
This year the pipers’ event will be taking place in the new Oban High School – the first public event to be held there.
Argyll and Bute Councillor Elaine Robertson told organisers at a launch celebration at the Perle Hotel in Oban: ‘I can hardly believe it’s the 35th year. I remember the first one. It’s proved to be a huge success and it’s growing year on year. The numbers of entries are quite exceptional this year. It’s an accolade to all those who are involved in organising it.
‘I wish you to have a very successful event, I know you will. It’s not just successful from a cultural point of view but also from an economic one – bringing an extra £2 million into the town a year so thank you for that.
‘It adds to our very vibrant town.’
The festival promotes a long tradition in music and dance but also introduces innovation through group dancing competitions and novelty from the individual.
This year’s event is being supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Event Directorate, for the third year.
VisitScotland’s director of events, Paul Bush OBE, said: ‘EventScotland is delighted to be supporting the Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival, through our National Events Programme. Scotland is the perfect stage for cultural events, and the festival is a great showcase of the country’s traditional talent. In 2018, we are celebrating the Year of Young People, and it is great to see the festival giving audiences the chance to see some of Scotland’s best young musicians and dancers perform.’
To book tickets, call 07510 841198 or visit obanfestival.org