2008 Events

April

Apr 1-30 “Creating Order”, an exhibition in the Courtyard Gallery, Benmore Gardens,10:30 – 17:30

Apr 1 - 30 “Hard Rain”, Benmore Gardens. An exhibition remarking a world gone wrong.

April 4 “Rush” Tribute Band, Queen’s Hall, Dunoon, 8pm, Tickets £12; Tel: (01369)-702800

Apr 7 - 13 Lochfynehead Week

Fun for all the family, Lochfynehead week includes a duathlon with a run to the top of Ben Buidhe, string orienteering for kids, treasure hunt, visits to Ardkinglas Mansion House, guided walks, brewery tours and tree shop demonstrations. see www.lochfynhead.com for further details.

April 7 Puppet Show, “Willie the Wicked Wolf”, Queen’s Hall, Dunoon, 11am, Tickets £4; Tel (01369)-702800

April 9 Puppet Show , “Beauty and the Beast”, Queen’s Hall, 11am, Tickets £4; Tel (01369)-702800

April 18 “Mad About Musicals, Queen’s Hall, Dunoon, 8pm, Tickets £15; Tel:(01369)-702800

April 19 “Cowal Fiddle Workshop”, Queen’s Hall, Dunoon, 7.30pm, Tel: (01369)-702800

May

May 1 - 5 Isle of Bute Jazz Festival

Now in its TENTH year, the Festival attracts top jazz musicians from all over the world.

May 1-18 “Creating Order”, an exhibition in the Courtyard Gallery, Benmore Gardens;10:30 – 17:30.

May 1 - 31 “Hard Rain”, Benmore Gardens, an exhibition remarking a a world gone wrong.

May 3 & Jun 1 Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival - Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch.

A celebration and demonstration of great Scottish cooking and a showcase of excellent produce from within Scotland's first National Park and throughout Scotland.

May 3 -Jun 12 Art Exhibition – Tighnabruaich Gallery

May 10 - 11 Loch Fyne Food Fair

Cairndow, near Inveraray, Argyll

A feast of West Coast food next to the famous Loch Fyne Oyster Bar. Accompanied by wines, local ales, and live music all day, there will be a wide range of foods showcased, sold by the producers, ready to eat or to take home. There will also be a craft tent with over 20 craft producers and children’s entertainment.

May 15 Walks & Talks ,Benmore Gardens, 2pm, “Restoring the Benmore Fernery”

May 16 “The Singing Kettle”, Queen’s Hall, Dunoon, 17.00; Tel:(01369)-702800

May 18 “Bluebell Day”, Glenbranter forestry office, 1:30 – 16.00, £5 per person, children free, includes tea/coffee and cake; Tel: Glenbranter Office, (01369)-860703

May 23 - 26 Bell Lawrie Scottish Series, Tarbert, Argyll

Scotland's premier yacht racing event is held annually in Tarbert, attracting up to 200 yachts and their crew, racing on the clear waters of Loch Fyne.

May 24 “Wildlife in Cowal”, meet at Ardgartan Visitor Centre, 12:00 - 16.00, £2; Tel: Glenbranter Office, (01369)-860703

May 24-Jun 1 Feis Ile - Islay Festival of Malt and Music 2008, Island of Islay (all day)

May 31 “The Gunna Sound Ceilidh Band”, Park Hotel, Dunoon, 8pm-1am, Tickets £7; Tel: (01369)-702383

June

Jun 1 - 8 “Hard Rain”, Benmore Gardens, exhibition remarking a world gone wrong.

Jun 15 & 16 Get Active Loch Lomond Festival, Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch

Canoeing, mountain biking, wakeboarding, a 10k race and even an invitation to join an evening canoe trip, will be just some of the outdoor activities on offer at loch.

Jun13 -Aug 30 “P.S. Waverley” Sails on the Clyde (see leaflets)

Jun 14 -30 Jul Art Exhibition – Tighnabruaich Gallery

Jun 21 “Family Woodland Fun Day”, meet at Glenbranter forestry office, 12:00-16.00, £2, Tel:Glenbranter Office, (01369)-860703

Jun 22 Swamp Soccer, Strachur by Dunoon

Jun 20 - 22 ArtsFeastCowal - Artsfeast 2008 at various venues and studios in Dunoon and Cowal. A celebration of the Arts and Food in Cowal. A feast of music, theatre, art, photography, film and of course food. See www.artsfeastcowal.com.

Jun 24-Aug 26 “P.S. Waverley – (Cruise on Loch Fyne),Tighnabruaich; 13.40

Jun 28 - Jul 5 Mendelssohn on Mull Festival

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.

July

Jul 5 - 6 Tarbert Seafood Festival, Tarbert, Loch Fyne

This annual festival is set around the beautiful natural harbour at Tarbert on Loch Fyne 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.

Jul 10 - 13 Barclays Scottish Open, 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.

Jul 19 & 20 Dunstaffnage Music Festival, 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.

July 21 “P.S. Waverley”, Sail from Tighnabruaich 14.15 (not Dunoon), cruise Loch Fyne; back 17.25.

Jul 25 - 27 Lomond Folk Festival, 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.

August

Aug 2 “Wildlife in Cowal”, meet at Ardgartan Visitor Centre, 12:00 - 16.00, £2, Tel: Glenbranter Office, (01369)-860703.

Aug 2-28 Art Exhibition, Tighnabruaich Gallery

Aug 9 Walking Theatre Company present “Treasure Island”, 14.00-16-00, meet at Glenmorag car park, West Bay, Dunoon, adults £5, children free; Tel: Glenbranter Office, (01369)-860703.

Aug 14 Walks & Talks, “China Now and Then”, Benmore Gardens, 14.00

Aug 14 Islay Show, Isle of Islay

Aug 16 & 17 “From Small Acorns”, exhibition, Hunter’s Quay Holiday Village, 10am – 4pm; Tel: Jackie McBurney, (01369)-707772 or (07717)-404520

Aug 21 - 24 Mull of Kintyre Music Festival, Campbeltown, Argyll

Campbeltown in beautiful Kintyre is the setting for this weekend-long display of new, emerging and established musical talent. Indoor and outdoor venues host a range of concerts, sessions, ceilidhs, choirs, pipe and brass bands and modern & Highland dancing. With open-air and children's events.

Aug 28 - 30 Cowal Highland Gathering, Dunoon

Dating back to 1894, the Gathering is described as 'the largest and most spectacular Highland Games in the world'.

The Cowal Highland Games annually attracts more than 3,500 competitors - many from Scottish diaspora, from as far afield as British Columbia and New Zealand to compete in dancing, piping, heavy events, athletics and shinty.

Aug 30-Oct 2 Art Exhibition , Tighnabruaich Gallery.

September

Sept 3 & 10 “Bat Watch”, meet Glenbranter Information Centre, 19.30 till late, Adults £5, Children Free, children must be with an adult; Tel: (01369)-860703

Sept 20 “The Fraser McGlynn Duo”, Park Hotel, Dunoon, 8pm – 1am, Tickets £7; Tel: (01369)-702383

Sept 28 World Stone Skimming Championships, Easedale

The tiny Hebridean island of Easdale welcomes almost 200 competitors battling to win the coveted World Stone Skimming Cup. With party, barbeque, bands and children's entertainment, the championships promise a fun day out for everyone.

Oct 3 - 12 Cowalfest – for details go to www.cowalfest.org

Cowalfest, Scotland's largest walking festival, is now also a major arts festival with a 10-day programme of walks, arts, cultural and social events that celebrate landscape and the natural world's influence on creativity. This is a unique and vibrant festival that's redolent of place and imbued with local character and charm. Its mountains and lochs, formed by fire and ice, are graced by forest and ancient woodland, and never far away are those stunning west coast sea lochs.

November

Oct 4 - Nov 26 Art Exhibition, Tighnabruaich Gallery.

Oct 10 - 12 Tunnock's Tour of Mull Rally, Mull

Claimed to be 'the best rally in the world', the thrilling Tunnock's Tour of Mull sees cars compete against the clock over the island's often single-track public roads, with lots of hairpins, steep hills and big drops! Come and compete or spectate and party in one of Mull's biggest events of the year.

Oct 18 “Isla Accordian & Fiddle Band”, Park Hotel, Dunoon, 8pm – 1am, Tickets £7; Tel: (01369)-702383

Oct 18 “P.S. Waverley”, sail from Blairmore Pier, 13.00, cruise to Lochgoilhead & Arrochar; back 16.15.

Oct 19 “P.S.Waverley”, sail from Dunoon Pier 12.45 to Rothesay & Tighnabruaich; back 16.45

Nov 15 “Sileas Sinclair Ceilidh Band”, Park Hotel, Dunoon, 8pm – 1am, Tickets £7; Tel: (01369)-702383

Nov 29 -Jan 3 Art Exhibition, Tighnabruaich Gallery

December

Dec 20 “Deoch ‘N’ Doris”, Park Hotel, Dunoon, 8pm – 1am, Tickets £7; Tel: (01369)-702383

Dec 31 Oban Hogmanay Street Party

Oban pushes the boat out with an event which has all the ingredients of being a great family occasion. A fantastic entertainment programme has been lined up for the event with the sensational ceilidh band Skerryvore topping the bill. They will be ably supported by The Democrats and Chunks as well as traditional piping and Gaelic music. There will also be a fabulous fireworks display from high above the town.

(Dates tbc) Helensburgh and Lomond Real Ale Festival

Bringing together nine of the finest independent Scottish breweries, alongside a plethora of local musical talent, the inaugural Helensburgh and Lomond Real Ale Festival promises to be one of the drinking events of year.