If you know anything about Oban, you’ll know it’s a prevalent tourist location within Scotland, with visitors from other parts of the country and abroad. Not only a popular springboard for the Isles of the Inner Hebrides beyond, Oban also holds much of its own appeal for visitors.
Home to several popular tourist attractions, including the Oban Distillery, McCaig’s Tower and Battery Hill, and Dunstaffange Castle, Oban also has a packed events calendar. With celebrations of traditional music, culture and heritage like the Royal Mòd to more active pursuits such as the West Highland Walking Week, there’s plenty to do throughout the summer and Autumn months.
But what about winter? While certainly quieter than the jostling summer months, winter in Oban is not to be missed, as from the 15th through to the 24th of November, the town hosts its famous Winter Festival!
Where is the winter festival held?
An attraction since 2011, the festival is held throughout the town at a variety of venues. It is best enjoyed on foot, allowing you to soak in the atmosphere and festive features of the events taking place across the nine-day festival.
The Christmas markets
What’s a Winter Festival without a Christmas market?
Voted as one of the best in the UK by Countryfile in 2023, the market was described as ‘magical’ with a wide range of local produce available.
Winter Woods 2024
If you want to take yourself and your child out of the hustle and bustle of the town itself for a moment, don’t worry; there’s an activity for that, too!
A self-led walk through the nearby woodland, the trees are lit up and decorated for the Winter Woods event each year, featuring installations created by local individuals, community groups, businesses, schools and nurseries.
This year’s event features several installations made from upcycled and recycled materials, themed around “Oceans & Seas” inspired by the waters around the town that have sustained it for centuries.
With slots available throughout the festival, book your tickets for the event here.
Scottish Haggis Festival
One of the most popular attractions during the Oban Winter Festival is Haggistfest. A festival within a festival, Haggisfest pits the best local butchers against one another to find the winner of two awards – the prestigious Golden Haggis award and The People’s Choice award.
A chance for local businesses to flex their skills and promote their wares to an eager audience, the event, held at the Oban Distillery, will also offer the opportunity to taste whisky – a perfect opportunity for visitors looking to dive into the very best of Scottish food and drink.
However, this isn’t the only haggis-related activity during the festival. With St Andrews Day only a short time after the festival itself on the 30th of November, you can take part in the annual Haggis Dash, enjoy haggis and whisky tasting, and enjoy a Ceilidh at The View on the day.
Christmas lights, Reindeer Parade and the Finale Concert
While there are lots to see throughout its duration, Oban’s Winter Festival culminates in exciting fashion with two popular events – the Christmas lights switch-on and the Reindeer Parade, both of which are hugely popular with families
Youngsters can see Santa Claus himself and his reindeer, as they make their way through the town to the tune of the Oban Pipe Band before arriving at the light switch-on to illuminate the town for another festive season.
You’ll have the opportunity to join a host of phenomenal musicians at the town’s Corran Halls, which is only a short 8-minute walk from our hotel, for an evening of Scotland’s best Gaelic singers, accordion and fiddle music – a truly memorable way to round off the festival.
Purchasing your tickets
With many of the festival’s events in high demand, be sure to book tickets as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss any of the attractions, which you can do on their website or by contacting their team directly!
How to get there and where to stay
If you’re visiting Oban from the Central Belt, you’ll be pleased to know that a journey from Glasgow only takes a couple of hours by car and three hours if visiting from Edinburgh. Additionally, a train from Glasgow’s Queen Street station is also available.
While visiting for the day can be great for those wanting a quick taste of the festival and Oban, we’d recommend staying in the town for the authentic Winter Festival experience. Why not stay in ultimate comfort at the No.17 The Promenade or our sister hotel, the No.26 By The Sea.
