July

The East Neuk Festival
When: 2nd - 6th July 2008 Where: Various venues across the East Neuk, Fife
A long weekend of readings and concerts by world-class musicians set in the atmospheric setting of the East Neuk of Fife, one of Scotland's most beautiful areas.

Game Conservancy Scottish Fair
When: 4th - 6th July 2008 Where: Scone Palace, Perthshire
With an extensive range of competitions, displays and demonstrations, the fair is one of the main countryside events of the year in Scotland. Traditional country contests of shooting, fishing and gundogs feature on a varied programme alongside quad biking, military re-enactment displays, food and drink fair, shopping and children's activities.

Haddington Show
When: 5th July 2008 Where: Haddington
A fun day for all the family with livestock and horse classes, vintage machinery, sheaf-tossing, falconry display, sheep-shearing demonstration, cookery demonstration, crafts and produce.

Tarbert Seafood Festival
When: 5th - 6th July 2008 Where: Tarbert, Loch Fyne
This annual festival is set around the beautiful natural harbour at Tarbert on LochFyne and showcases some of the finest and tastiest seafood in Scotland. Cookery demonstrations, street entertainment, exhibitions, seafood, craft stalls, live music and a carnival parade are just some of the great events on offer.

Barclays Scottish Open
When: 10th - 13th July 2008 Where: Loch Lomond
A major event on the European PGA golf tour, the Barclays Scottish open attracts an outstanding field of players from around the world. The competition is staged on the stunning and exclusive Loch Lomond course that was recently ranked 21 in the world's top 100 courses and has become an instant favourite of players and visitors alike.

T in the Park
When: 11th - 13th July 2008 Where: Balado. Perthshire
Now in its second decade, T in the Park has become one of the most important and critically acclaimed music events on the UK and European festival circuit. Some 35,000 tickets for the 2008 event have already been sold. The remainder go on sale in February. Last year's event sold out inside a record-breaking one hour for a bill featuring headliners Arctic Monkeys, Razorlight, The Killers, and Snow Patrol.

Dundee Guitar Festival
When: 11th - 13th July 2008 Where: Dundee
Scotland's premier annual guitar event celebrates guitar music in its many forms and attracts top artists from home and abroad. Featuring concerts, courses, guest artists and master classes, a contemporary styles long weekend and Scotland's first international guitar competition for young performers.

Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Club (SVVC Extravaganza)
When: 12th & 13th July 2008 Where: Glamis Castle, Forfar
The spectacular landscaped grounds of Glamis Castle are host to the annual Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Society's Scottish Transport Extravaganza. 800 vintage cars and other vehicles are on display. This is an event not to be missed by motor enthusiasts. However, with many more attractions, numerous stalls, a craft tent, marching pipe bands and a children's area, this is an all-round family day out.

Classic Malts Cruise
When: 12th - 24th July 2008 Where: West Coast
One of the most popular events in Scotland's sailing diary. Over 100 yachts from all over Europe sail on 200-mile cruise from Oban up to Skye then back south to Islay, calling at famous coastal whisky distilleries: Oban, Lagavulin and Caol Ila (Islay) and Talisker (Skye).

Hebridean Celtic Festival
When: 16th - 19th July 2008 Where: Hebrides
The Hebridean Celtic Festival has a well-earned reputation as one of the best festivals of its kind in the world combining top traditional and contemporary music, stunning scenery, the good craic, ceilidhs, kids' activities and workshops, and friendliest of welcomes for all.

Glasgow's River Festival
When: 19th & 20th July 2008 Where: Glasgow
The River Festival celebrates the Clyde, one of the world's most famous rivers, in a series of events on water and on the riverbanks and land around. With exhibitions, displays, performances, sailings and open days on all kinds of craft, as well as special activities for children, the festival offers plenty of fun and excitement for all.

The Rat Race Urban Adventure
When: 19th & 20th July 2008 Where: Edinburgh
Hundreds of competitors from across the UK and abroad will take to the streets, waterways and hills in and around Edinburgh for this year's Rat Race. The two-day adventure race will challenge the athleticism, teamwork and endurance of all participants across a varied course.

The City of Inverness Highland Games
When: 19th & 20th July 2008 Where: Inverness
The biggest and most spectacular Highland Games staged in the Scottish Highlands plays host to the World Championship for Heavies aged 40 years and over - Scotland has never seen so many heavies gathered in one place at one time. Add a full programme of pipe band competitions, solo piping, Highland dancing and traditional music, together with the Scotland's biggest inter-clan gathering and you will discover why Inverness is the must-see games of the year!

The Wickerman Festival
When: 25th & 26th July 2008 Where: Dumfries & Galloway
Scotland's alternative music festival offers a unique and eclectic celebration of cult musical genres and cult cinema with a relaxed, laidback family-friendly atmosphere, aimed at the more discerning contemporary music fan. All the action climaxes with the burning of a giant traditional willow and straw effigy.

Lomond Folk Festival
When: 25th - 27th July 2008 Where: Loch Lomond
This traditional and folk-music festival is held annually at Balloch on the shores of beautiful Loch Lomond. Featuring sessions, singing, instrument workshops, craft fairs, street entertainment and children's show.

Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival
When: 25th July - 3rd August 2008 Where: Edinburgh
The longest-running jazz festival in the UK features all styles of jazz from international artistes in all sorts of venues large and small across the capital. Outdoor concerts also take the music out into the streets of the city. Supplemented by vocal workshops and a summer school for aspiring jazz musicians.

Big Tent
When: 26th - 27th July 2008 Where: Falkland, Fife
Big Tent 2007 returns to Falkland Palace with its unique mix of entertainment and environmentally-minded education. With creative workshops, puppet shows and storytelling for children, exhibitions, displays and debates for adults, plus a festive ambiance provided by world music artists, the festival will provide serious fun for all ages focused around this year's theme Minding the Future.

Aberdeen International Youth Festival
When: 30 July - 9th August 2008 Where: Aberdeen
Celebrating the best youth talent from all over the world, the festival brings Aberdeen to life with 10 days of dazzling entertainment, music, theatre and dance, all kicking off with a colourful grand parade through the city centre. Events take place throughout the northeast with something for everyone, from orchestral concerts to steel drums, song recitals and massed choirs to traditional music, ballet to African dance and drumming, opera and special events for children.

Speyfest
When: 31st July - 3rd August 2008 Where: Fochabers, Moray
One of the north's foremost Celtic festivals, Speyfest offers a wonderful weekend of high-quality traditional and modern music, concerts, late-night ceilidhs and Celtic rock. Musicans from around the world will be performing as usual, and there's a special programme for children and young people.

Edinburgh Art Festival
When: 31st July - 31 August 2008 Where: Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Art Festival returns for its fifth year, showcasing a diverse and vibrant programme of visual arts exhibitions and events. Over 35 galleries, institutions and artist-led organisations took part last year. Highlights included exhibitions of Picasso, Andy Warhol, William Blake and Turner shortlist nominee Nathan Coley.

Deep Fried Film Festival
When: (Dates tbc) Where: Coatbridge and Airdrie, Lanarkshire
Scotland's newest and most exciting film festival featuring films from Scotland and around the world. The Deep Fried Film Festival is an egalatarion festival, open to all and aimed at creating better communication in the media world. In addition to screenings, the festival also plays host to several meet-and-greet sessions for film makers from around the globe.

ButeLive Music & Arts Festival
When: (Dates tbc) Where: Bute
ButeLive is geared to suit all ages and tastes and truly has something for all the family, from concerts and theatre to magic and free pub gigs, all aimed at encouraging live music and arts performance on the island.

Indian Summer Weekender
When: (Dates tbc) Where: Glasgow
This boutique music event is held in the leafy surroundings of Glasgow's Victoria Park and showcases indie, electronic and alternative music in a relaxed picnic-style atmosphere.

British Isles Flying Fifteen National Championships
When: (Dates tbc) Where: Largs, Ayrshire
This is a competitive sailing regatta attracting over 60 Flying Fifteen boats which will race for four days for the prize of national champion. These boats are sailed by a crew of two and will race in the Largs channel and to the north of the island of Cumbrae. Spectators are welcome to watch the racing and enjoy the panoramic views from Largs Sailing Club and the facilities of the Yacht Haven.

Museum of Flight Airshow
When: (Dates tbc) Where: East Fortune, East Lothian
A fabulous day out at the Museum of Flight includes spectacular aerial displays, a fantastic programme of ground entertainment and activities plus the opportunity to view one of the Museum of Flight's most important acquisitions - Concorde.

Proms at the Palace
When: (Dates tbc) Where: Perth
The world-renowned British Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined at Scone Palace by Icelandic soloist Gardar Cortes and All Angels, the world's first female classical supergroup, for what promises to be Scotland's biggest outdoor classical event of 2007. Bring your friends, pack a picnic and enjoy the most fabulous social event of the year!

Dunstaffnage Music Festival
When: (Dates tbc) Where: Dunstaffnage, by Oban
A two-day music festival which has grown out of an informal party at Achnacloich near Oban. Set to become an annual event, the festival will feature performances from 16 bands per day over two stages from 12 noon to midnight each day.

The Hebridean Challenge
When: 29th June - 4th July 2008 Where: Outer Hebrides
The Hebridean Challenge is one of the toughest and most demanding adventure races in the world and takes place in the Outer Hebrides. Over 5 days competing teams travel the length of the islands from Vatersay in the south to Lewis in the north with sections of hill running, road running, road and mountain biking, sea swimming and sea kayaking.

Mendelssohn on Mull Festival
When: 28th June - 5th July 2008 Where: Mull
A series of open rehearsals, recitals and concerts given by a group of young musicians on the brink of starting their professional careers, mentored by a dedicated group their seniors. The week-long festival plays to packed houses on the island Mendelssohn himself admired so much.