The Cairngorms National Park is packed full of events all year round. Below we highlight some of the main calender events which happen on an annual basis.
For current events, pick up a copy of the free monthly What’s On guide, widely available in outlets across the National Park.
January
February
- Food on Film, Annual Winter Festival
March
- UpBattle – Split boarding Championships, Cairngorm Mountain (weather dependent)
- Braemar Mountain Festival, Various Venues


April
- Easter (check online calendar for list of village fairs & easter events)
- Run Balmoral, Ballater
- Glenlivet 10k, Glenlivet
May
- Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, various venues
- Spring Gathering, Nethy Bridge
- The Atholl Gathering, Blair Atholl
- Cairngorms Nature Festival various venues
June
- The Speyside Triathlon
- The Cairngorms Ultra
- Moray Walking and Outdoor Festival
- Kingussie Bikeathon
- Lairig Ghru Hill Race
- Ballater Duck Race
July


August
- Newtonmore Highland Games
- Ballater Highland Games
- Ballater Victoria Week
- The Grantown Show
- Abernethy Highland Games
- Lonach Gathering, Strathdon
- Grantown on Spey Highland Games
- Thunder in the Glens – Harley Davidson Motorbike Rally, Aviemore and Grantown on Spey, various venues
- Blair Horse Trials, Blair Atholl
September
- Carve Carrbridge – Scottish Chainsaw Carving Championships
- Braemar Gathering
- Go Swim Loch Morlich
- Aviemore Triathlon, Loch Morlich
- The Glenmore 24
October
- The Illuminator Night Trail Race
- Golden Spurtle – World Porridge Making Championships
- Aviemore Half Marathon


November
- Glen Clova Half Marathon
- Fireworks Display, Cairngorm Hotel – Aviemore
- Exclusively Highlands – Craft Fair, Blair Castle
- Ballater Winter Festival
- Cairngorm Ski Club Snowsports Sale, Aviemore
December
- Christmas Parades & Carols on Christmas Eve, Various Venues
- Santa and Reindeer visit on Christmas Eve, Ballater
- Torchlight Parade, Grantown on Spey
- Santa Train, Strathspey Railway – Aviemore
- Christmas Panto, Braemar
- Macdonalds Christmas Panto, Aviemore
- Aviemore Santa Run for Disability Snowsports
- Hogmanay Celebrations throughout the Cairngorms


Check out our Online Magazine
‘What’s happening in the Cairngorms National Park’ is our online magazine, packed with events and things to do!
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