Tarbert Guide To Festivals

Argyll is famous for its festivals; highland games, highland dancing, and Scottish country music, to name a few. If you plan to visit during these times, you are strongly advised to book your accommodation well in advance as during the festivals there is an over whelming demand for accommodation. The festivals are all very well attended and people come from far and wide as these festivals are an established part of the Scottish festivals calendar. Most of the festivals have highland games, highland dancing, and music. Some of these festivals are listed below.

Tarbert Fair, Seafood Festivals, Tennis

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Tarbert Fair

Tarbert Fair is one of the oldest and approved fairs in Tarbert. It is being held since 1705 on the last Thursday of July every year. The fair started after the Scottish Parliament passed an "Act in favour of Archibald Mackalester of Tarbert to hold four yearly fairs and a weekly mercat at the Toun of East Tarbert." According to the Act, yearly fairs were to be held on May 10, July 16, August 9 and October 16. This privilege appears to have been modified, and for one reason or another we ended up having only one fair and that too on the last Thursday of July every year. Originally a cattle fair; now music, amusements, rides and social gatherings have replaced the cattle.

The next Tarbert Fair will be on July 28 - 31, 2011.

Loch Fyne Food Fair

Loch Fyne Food Fair - A Feast of West Coast Food, Wine and Live Entertainment has now become an annual event held usually over the second weekend in May every year. Stalls open from 11 am to 6 pm, admission is free but parking is charged £3 per vehicle. Location: Fields next to the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, Cairndow.
Food Tent: Featuring FOOD FROM ARGYLL Producers, as seen at T in the Park, Belladrum and Connect. A wide range of foods, sold by the producers alongside Loch Fyne Oyster's own sea food stands. Stalls in 2011 will include Winston Churchill Venison, Isabella's Preserves, Great Glen Game, Orkney Herrings, Barbreck Farms, Bumble Puddings, Fyne Cakes, Crystal Shortbread, Orkney Icecreams and Ayrshire Confections. For details contact: Virginia Sumsion, Loch Fyne Oysters, Cairndow, Argyll, PA26 8BL. For application details contact Telephone: 01499 600470, Fax: 01499 600234, email.

The next fair will be on May 14 - 15, 2011.

Tarbert Seafood Festival

Tarbert Seafood Festival has been regularly held since 1967 usually during the first full weekend in July every year. Many stalls are erected along the Harbour Street. You should park your vehicle away from this street as it usually overflows with visitors, street performers and cooking stalls. The visitors can sample the deliciously cooked Scottish seafood while exploring the other stalls lining the Harbour Street. You will find the vendors selling everything from hand made crafts to souvenirs. The music is loud, may be live and plentiful. The entire Harbour Street is well decorated and there is no admission fee.

The next festival will be held on July 2 -3, 2011.

West Highland Tennis Championships

West Highland Tennis Championships is locally known as Oban Tennis Tournament. This tournament caters for all levels of ability in tennis and for a wide age range. The Gents and Ladies Championship Singles are part of the SLTA Senior Grand Prix.
The Championship will again be held over the final 3 days (Fri - Sun). Championship Events are the Open and Under 21 events. Players may enter two events and give an option for a third event. The Junior events cater for juniors 6.1 and above rating and events will be held on Thursday 30 June. Please contact Neil for more details. The Veterans' day is a relaxed friendly day with coffee and scones to start then lots of good competition, and home baking all through the day. Handicap events give non championship players the chance to do well.

There are five (5) courts; three (3) artificial grass, and two (2) hard courts. The social side of the tournament is considered very important and they put on different events in the evenings: quiz, bbq, council reception, wine and cheese welcome. For details email, Telephone: 01631 563516, 0r write to the Tournament Secretary, Joan Tolmie, Lismore House, Rockfield Road, Oban.

West Highland Tennis Championships will be held on July 1-3, 2011
Local / Handicap events will run from June 25-30, 2011.

Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute, PA20 9LR. Now in its 4th year the eatBute festival is a celebration of the best produce that Scotland’s food & craft artisans have to offer, with a special emphasis on the products of Bute, Argyll and the surrounding region. Organised and promoted by Mount Stuart Trust eatBute is a key event in both the Isle of Bute and the Scottish Festival Calendar. This year is set to be their best event yet. Learn some tricks of the trade at their cookery demonstrations from some of the best chefs in the UK. ITV1's 'This Morning' and their chef Phil Vickery will be paying a visit to this festival.

The visitors can enter a number of competitions with excellent prizes up for grabs: Window Box of the Year, Vegetable of the Festival and the Homemade Apple Pie Champion. There will be a wealth of Live Music, a mini zoo, face painting, sports games, a smoothie bike and even an appearance from Peppa Pig to keep the kids entertained.

Entry to the main eatBute event is FREE, however tickets can be secured in advance to ensure fast track entry to the main event site. For details and to obtain free tickets please call the Mount Stuart Office Telephone: 01700 50 3877, email or visit their website.

The next festival will be hosted on September 10-11, 2011.

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