Community Calendar
The 'Community Calendar' is aimed at encouraging a wider range of events and activities around the Beltane Festival and Beltane Society. For more information or to request places at any of these events, please email calendar@beltane.org
Before Beltane
Beltane Performers Open Mic Night
Tues 15th April - Forest Café, Bristo Place - 9pm till closeA chilled-out evening with friends before the final 2 weeks of craziness. Bring your own bottle, songs, instruments, stories, poems and miscellaneous entertainments. The night be opened by the Forest Choir to get those singing muscles loosened up. Projections courtesy of Photopoint.
Workshop/Talk - Fire Festivals as Rites of Passage
Wed 16th April - Forest Café(Action Room), Bristo Place - 7:30 till 9pmAn exploration of Beltane, and fire festivals in general, as rites of passage; transformatory experiences for those who take part with a clear build up, a focal event and assimilation afterwards. An opportunity to come together and share personal understandings of Beltane as a dynamic catalyst for change in your life.
Elemental Party
Fri 18th April - Te Pooka - Doors 7:30 (tbc)Join the four elements for a celebration of their spirit and unity. Showcase performances from each elemental group, plus cabaret, bands, drumming and a bar. Please turn up early to ensure entry.
Come one, come all. Bring all your hippy skills, all your exuberance and energy and wear the most brightly coloured things in your wardrobe. Summer is coming so lets dance till we drop for the great Edinburgh public. Two amazing publicity and fund-raising events for our incredible festival. Come and help make them happen. Bring friends and family. Tickets for Beltane will be on sale.
Beltane Masquerade Ceilidh
Sat 19th - Steiner School, 60 Spylaw Rd - 7pm till 1amA collaboration between BFS and Edinburgh's Ceilidh Collective. Music from the Cosmic Ceilidh Band and guest appearance from the Beastie drummers and the Forest Choir. Wear a mask to impress. Organic bar and raffle + MC Gandalf.
Tickets £10/£6.50 concession or advance (from Susie's Diner) £9/£5An Evening In The Otherworld - Storytelling and more with Alasdair and friends
Fri 25th - Te Pooka - 7:30 till 9pmAn evening of storytelling and music. Be transported into another realm on the threads of ancient tales to help set the scene for the coming magic of Beltane night.
After Beltane
The Beltane BBQ
Thur 1st May - Carlton Hill - 2pm onwardsPerhaps the most exciting event happening this year! You enjoyed last night so much you just can't stay away. Join us back on the hill for a sumptuous BBQ feast. Veggie friendly options. Excellent banter guaranteed. You may also be offered the chance to help tidy up! It just doesn't get any better!
Stitch 'n Bitch
Fri 2nd May - Meadows (Forest café if bad weather) - 3pm onwardsNow that you've had time to recover a little, come and join us in the summer sunshine (fingers crossed) for a catch-up gossip and a spot of crocheting. Some wool and hooks will be provided. Can't crochet? This is the perfect opportunity to learn.
The Labyrinth
Fri 2nd May - Bristo Hall (above Forest Café) - 2pm til 5pm setup. 5pm - 9pm openA labyrinth to walk and reflect. A space for personal grounding after the intensity of Beltane. Focus, internalize or release. Come at 2pm to help create the labyrinth itself. Bring objects of personal significance. Opening ceremony at 5pm. The labyrinth will be open for anyone to walk until the space is closed at 9pm.
Guided Walk - Native Herb Lore
Sat 3rd May - Meet Forest Café (destination Cammo Estate) - 12noon to leave at 12:30 (by bus)Join Matt Richardson for a walk in the woods and learn how to identify and use a variety of native Scottish plants. If circumstances allow there will be a cooking session after the walk to prepare and eat some of the herbs gathered on the walk.
Red Men Present: An Intro to Acro
Sun 4th May - The Meadows - 3pm onwardsJoin the red men and learn how to do all that impressive acrobalance. Climb on each other with style and poise and impress your friends. Everyone from total beginners to advanced are welcome.
Workshop/Talk - Ritual Space
Sun 4th May - GRV - 7:30pm till 9:30What is a ritual? In what ways is Beltane a ritual? What does it mean to set up a ritual space? Come and hear various speakers and get involved in what is sure to be an interesting and thought provoking discussion concerning these and many other questions. The workshop also offers an opportunity to plan a post-Beltane ritual to take place the following Sunday evening.
Workshop/Skill Share - Fire Raising
Tues 6th May - Meadows (by jawbone walk) - 8:30 till 10:30Ever wondered how those shadowy characters on the acropolis make the neid fire spring out of nothing? Well now is your chance to find out. Learn the finer points of kindling and bow drills and make fire without the use of matches or a lighter.
Forum - Beltane and the Environment
Sat 10th May - Forest Café(Action Room), Bristo Place - 7pm till 9pmThis is a space for the open discussion of how issues of the environment relate to Beltane and how Beltane relates to issues of the environment. A broad range of approaches, topics and opinions is hugely encouraged. Topics may include: the environmental impact of Beltane and the spiritual connections of Beltane to the environment. We will hear from organisers of Green Point from 2008 and 2007 before opening up the floor to facilitated debate.
Roslin Glen Litter Pick-nic
Sun 11th May - Meet in Roslin Chapel Carpark - 2pmCome for a walk through this stunning woodland glen. Unfortunately rubbish has become more common in the glen recently, so help give something back by coming along and clearing it up a bit. Bring a binbag and litter picker if you have one. Also bring tasty food to share - we'll have a big picnic at the end.
Please note. With the exception of the Ceilidh and Elemental Clubnight, all events are free. However, we do request a small donation at each event (whatever you can afford) to cover expenses of venue hire and printing. Any surplus donations will of course go to BFS.