April

Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Art
When: 11th - 27th April 2008 Where: Glasgow
A festival of the best of contemporary visual arts and artists, including exhibitions, seminars, artists', talks and events.

Melrose Sevens 125th anniversary
When: 12th April 2008 Where: Melrose
The biggest and best of the Scottish Borders Rugby Sevens events returns for its 125th anniversary. Melrose is the birthplace of Rugby Sevens and is a must-see event for any rugby fan. Melrose Sevens draws thousands of spectators every year to see rugby played at its traditional home.

Ideal Home and Garden Show
When: 16th - 20th April 2008 Where: Glasgow
The SECC hosts this new show which adopts a seasonal focus, offering the latest in all garden and leisure products as well as showcasing trends in home interiors for the spring and summer months ahead. Featuring stunning interiors, inspirational garden ideas and fantastic shopping opportunities.

Spring Garden Show
When: 21st - 22nd April 2008 Where: Dundee
The Spring Garden Show is the premier early spring garden event in Scotland, with lots to interest gardeners of all ages, including specialist Scottish nurseries and local garden centres. Wonderful displays of spring colour, including daffodils, cut flowers, floral art plus gardening talks, craft fair and local produce stalls.

O'Neil Highland Open
When: 24th April - 1st May 2008 Where: Thurso
Surf's up! One of the most progressive events in competitive surfing, the O?Neill Highland Open returns to Scotland to challenge the best surfers in the world in the ice cold waters of the far north of mainland Scotland. Thurso East Beach boasts a premier wave, with a magic right hand break offering the riders some serious barrel time.

Scottish National Scale Model Show
When: 26th - 27th April Where: Perth
The Dewars Centre inPerth plays host to the largest scale model show in Scotland. Attracting modellers from all over the UK and Europe, the show features the competition to find the Junior and Senior model-maker in Scotland, model displays and demonstrations of model-making for all skill levels.

Beltane Fire Festival
When: 30th April 2008 Where: Edinburgh
Celebrating the arrival of summer, the Beltane Fire Festival is one of the most spirited and dramatic dates on Edinburgh's events calendar, with a exuberant mix of fire, costume, drums and pagan ritual on the dramatic setting of Calton Hill. Join the thousands who come at the traditional start of summer to see and take part in this colourful celebration of our Celtic year.

Mary King's Ghost Fest
When: 30th April 2008 Where: Edinburgh
Edinburgh's darkest tales and legendary paranormal activity will be revealed during a new 10 day, city-wide ghost festival. The festival is a unique opportunity to explore the supernatural side of many 'haunted sites', come along and take part in a parapsychology experiment, night vigils, workshops, talks and demonstrations on the subject.

Scottish Grand National Festival
When: (Dates tbc) Where: Ayr
The premier event in the Scottish National Hunt calendar always attracts a quality field from across Britain and Ireland. The chase is the culmination of the Gala Casinos Scottish Grand National Festival, a glamorous two-day steeplechasing festival at the recently revamped Ayr Racecourse.

Helensburgh and Lomond Real Ale Festival
When: (Dates tbc) Where: Helensburgh
Bringing together nine of the finest independent Scottish breweries, alongside a plethora of local musical talent, the inaugural Helensburgh and Lomond Real Ale Festival promises to be one of the drinking events of year.

Triptych
When: (Dates tbc) Where: around Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen
One of the UK's most innovative and eclectic music festivals, featuring arch-electronica, old-school reggae, grizzled blues, deep soul, techno, indie, hip-hop, neo-classical... and more! Taking place at venues around Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Edinburgh International Harp Festival
When: 28th March - 2nd April 2008 Where: Edinburgh
The Edinburgh International Harp Festival features a dynamic programme, with an international line-up and Celtic nations featuring particularly strongly. Specially commissioned work features alongside more familiar favourites in a series of concerts, courses, workshops and an exhibition, all celebrating this oldest of Scottish instruments. Come along and take part in the fun.

Edinburgh International Science Festival
When: 25th March - 5th April 2008 Where: Edinburgh
Twelve days of non-stop shows, workshops, exhibitions, talks, tours, demonstrations and hands-on activities for kids, families and adults, all showing just how much fun science can be.

Dumfries & Galloway Wildlife Festival
When: 21st March - 13th April 2008 Where:
Welcome to the fifth Dumfries & Galloway Wildlife Festival. The festival continues to grow, with more events arranged to allow you to see some of the region's special wildlife. So if you have never seen a red squirrel, red kite or badger - now is your chance. Experienced wildlife watchers and beginners should both find something of interest in the festival, and look out for a range of events for the whole family.

Edinburgh's Ceilidh Culture
When: 21st March - 13th April 2008 Where: Edinburgh
Ceilidh Culture is Edinburgh's annual showcase of traditional arts, featuring the best of home-grown talent alongside acts from across the world, with local performers as well as international stars from song, music, dance, storytelling and more.