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(Fri 3 Oct-Wed 19 Nov - Aberdeen) Join us for a jamboree of stories from Aberdeen and beyond. With special guests Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen (Norway) and Martin MacIntyre (Scotland), joined by local storytellers Phyll McBain, Jackie Ross, Grace Banks, Pauline Cordiner, Cara Silversmith and many more. Hosted by GAS (Grampian Association of Storytellers) and Elphinstone Institute. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 27 Sep-Sat 8 Nov) This stunning collection of ink illustrations and ceramics by emerging artist Hester Aspland draws lines between traditional stories and wild places. Atmospheric, observational landscape studies and explorations into folklore and fairy tales inform detailed, textural works which blend inspiration from the Golden Age of Illustration with a contemporary focus on the connections between women and nature. Book illustrations for projects working with the stories of Duncan Williamson and Tom Muir are shown alongside other evocative works traversing the landscapes and stories of Scotland, Iceland, Ireland and the Faroe Islands. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Wed 5 Nov: 7:30pm - SOLD OUT) The moon begins to form as the moon spinners wash their wool in the sea, winding it again into a white ball in the sky and re-creating the phases and cycles that guide our seasons, and our stories... ~~~~~ Join us for our quarterly series of full-moon celebrations, with live storytelling, music and a rotating programme of incredible performers. Following the Celtic Wheel of the Year (the quarterly seasons of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhuinn) we look forward to moon myths, lunar legends and cross-cultural stories, revealing themes of creation, fertility, cosmic joy, transformation, death and rebirth. For our November session we welcome you under the full Beaver Moon with another exciting lineup of storytellers, this month featuring Bea Ferguson, Selina Graham and Heather Yule, with Claire McNicol and Linda Williamson. ~~~~~ Moonspinners events will follow two distinct phases, with the first half of performance in the Netherbow Theatre, followed by a social and conversational flow upstairs in the Storytelling Court with a chance to digest and discuss the stories amongst friends old and new. Come early for a warm, community meal of haggis, neeps & tatties from The Haggis Box before the Moonspinners performance. It’s free for all ticket-holders, and if you wish, you can make a pay-what-you-can donation to support the Edinburgh Food Project, who run 7 foodbanks accross our city. The community meal will be served from 6pm to 7:15pm. We will be able to cater for most dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free & dairy-free). You do not need to let us know in advance. Mark it in your diary, or just follow the moon to guide you here! ~~~~~ Image credit: Hester Aspland
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7 Nov: 5pm - Stornoway) Storyteller Alex Patience from Portskerra returns to her granny’s native shores to share traditional stories and knowledge spiced with a wide range of North Atlantic culture, arts and nature. Hosted by An Taigh Cèilidh, 16 Church St, HS1 2DH ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 7 Nov: 7pm - Dundee) SISF joins wi Blether, the monthly Scots variety nicht fer an evening fou o sangs, stories, poems and mair! Wi guests Orcadian poet and scriever Harry Josephine Giles, Perthshire storyteller Lindsey Gibb and renowned Scots singer Christine Kydd. There’s open mic slots tae if ye fancy daeing yer thing for 3 mins. Emcees Calum Kelly and National Library of Scotland Scots scriever Taylor Dyson. In partnership wi Elfie Picket Theatre and Sweet Venues. from Sweden. At Sweet Venues, Keiller Centre, 3 Chapel Street, DD1 1DQ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 7 Nov: 7:30pm - Biggar) Join storytellers Peter Chand and Kirsten Milliken for an evening of evocative folktales and legends from their respective Indian and Scottish traditions about lake nymphs, enchanted mists, hidden realms and the water that connects us all. This event will now be held at Biggar Corn Exchange, 126 High St, Biggar ML12 6DL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 11am - Forfar) Eileen Budd shares the folklore of our Northern skies, stones and symbols as seen through the eyes of Picts and Vikings. After the storytelling session, create your own Viking or Pictish calendar, inspired by Eileen’s latest research into their fascinating symbols. Booking essential. At Meffan Museum, 20 West High Street, DD8 1BB. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 & Sat 22 Nov: 12pm) Come along for a nature-connection walk led by storytelling therapist Stephen McCabe, followed by printing from nature art workshop with Beetroots Collective’s artists Marta Adamowicz and Robert Motyka. Aimed at migrants and members of the local community. Please note: the meeting point for the walk is by the Scottish Parliament building at 12pm, look out for the Beetroots Collective banner. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Sat 8 Nov: 1:30pm - Dunfermline) Join Fife storytellers Riikka Palonen and Kate Walker as they make, sing and share stories of the sea from our Northern shores. Curious, crafty and clever tales! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Hosted by Lang Spoon Tales. At Queen Margaret Room, Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries 1 Abbot Street, KY12 7NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 3:30pm - Perth) Join storyteller Lizzie McDougall, clàrsach player Siannie Moodie and musician Nick Jenkins for an afternoon of music and tales inspired by Perthshire’s Jacobite past. Discover the legends of nearby Fingask Castle, brought to life at Perth Museum and in the shadow of a sword believed to have belonged to Bonnie Prince Charlie. At Perth Museum, St John’s Place, PH1 5SZ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 4pm) Join Randall Stevenson and Greg Walker, editors of The Oxford Handbook of Scottish Theatre, with playwright Linda McLean and storyteller Donald Smith, to explore this rich northern theme, past and present. Part of the New College Festival of Books and Belief. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Sun 9 Nov: 6:30pm - Aberfeldy) Respected by ancient cultures, but the archetypal villain in European fairy tales, wolves were hunted to extinction in Scotland by the 18th century. Through ancient myth, shadow puppetry and dreamlike soundscapes, Dougie Mackay and Jemima Thewes take us to a space where Norse gods, Irish shapeshifters and Siberian wolf-children traverse Scottish moors and Transylvanian mountains. Stories about our oldest ally share the same question: in the absence of the wolf, what is lost? Hosted by Birks Cinema, 1 Dunkeld St, PH15 2DA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 2pm - Dundee) The D’arcy Thompson Museum is a cornucopia of fascinating objects, all with their own unique stories. Join Blether Tay-Gither storytellers for an hour of strange and wonderful tales inspired by this eclectic collection. Hosted by Blether Tay-Gither. At the D’arcy Thompson Museum, University of Dundee, Carnelley Building, Nethergate, DD1 4HN ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 2pm - Biggar) Step into the Otherworld and follow the Path of the Little People with storytellers Kirsten Milliken and David Hughes. Hear tales of the creatures that live in the branches, in the faerie rings and behind the little doors. Includes free hot chocolate. At Wiston Lodge, Millrigg Rd, Wiston, ML12 6HT. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 7pm - Winchburgh) Myths, legends, local history and lived events are waiting to be shared in a rousing evening of stories in the company of an up-and-coming storytelling community in West Lothian. Hosted by Winchburgh Storytellers and featuring aspiring, apprentice and professional storytellers. Supported by the Winchburgh Community Development Trust. Event held at the Winchburgh Community Centre, Craigton Place, EH52 6RW. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 16 Nov: 1:30pm - Dunfermline) Join Fife storytellers Riikka Palonen and Kate Walker as they cast their tales of stormy seas, magic, romance, and valour. Stirring stories to astonish, surprise and sustain. Hosted by Lang Spoon Tales. At Queen Margaret Room, Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries 1 Abbot Street, KY12 7NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 19 Nov: 6:30pm - Online) Rooted in Northeast Scotland, Education in the North is a radical journal that spans the northern hemisphere, exploring education, culture and language. Through the years, it has provided a cèilidh space for ideas and initiatives to cross fertilise, pushing the boundaries of academic practice so that Indigenous and folk knowledge and practices are valued, and their place within education celebrated. To mark its 60th Anniversary, the event brings together editors, storytellers and other contributors lifting up this work across Canada, Scotland and Norway. Hosted by Cathy Francis and Beth Cross with guests Jackie Ross, Jamie Fairbairn, Liisa- Rávná Finbog and Jennifer Markides. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 21 Nov: 11am - Dundee) Ravens have always strutted through myth and legend. Odin had two pet Ravens called Hugin and Munin: ‘Thought’ and ‘Memory’. Join storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks for a collection of memorable, thought-provoking and dementia-inclusive stories and songs from Scandinavia and Scotland. Tickets are limited, please book in advance. from Sweden. At Royal Victoria Hospital Meeting Centre, Jedburgh Road, DD2 1SP. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 23 Nov: 2:30pm - Cove & Kilcreggan) Danish storyteller Svend-Erik Engh and Scottish musician Neil Sutcliffe present an original tale of a young woman setting out to create her own destiny in Viking times. Brought to life through storytelling & music, blending traditional and original pieces. At Cove Sailing Club SCIO, Barons Point, G84 0NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 23 Nov: 4pm) *This event has been rescheduled from Sun 2 Nov* Join host Niall Moorjani for an afternoon of amazing open mic storytelling designed as a safe space to tell new work, or try storytelling for the first time. New stories, old stories, folk stories, myths, legends, made-up stories and stories true to life - bring them all! A BPOC queer-run event welcoming everyone to enjoy the storytelling experience. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Fri 28 Nov: 10:30am - Musselburgh) Ravens have always strutted through myth and legend. Odin had two pet Ravens called Hugin and Munin: ‘Thought’ and ‘Memory’. Join storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks for a collection of memorable, thought-provoking and dementia-inclusive stories and songs from Scandinavia and Scotland. At Musselburgh Meeting Centre, The Coffee Lounge, St Andrew’s Church, 70 Millhill, EH21 7EA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Online On-Demand) Another Story is our podcast series exploring some of the themes featured in recent festivals. Tune in to hear some wonderful storytellers share their favourite tales and chat about storytelling in Scotland and beyond. So join us for Another Story... Available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple, Google and Amazon. Follow us by liking and subscribing so you don’t miss an episode! Listen Here
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Online SISF
(Fri 3 Oct-Wed 19 Nov - Aberdeen) Join us for a jamboree of stories from Aberdeen and beyond. With special guests Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen (Norway) and Martin MacIntyre (Scotland), joined by local storytellers Phyll McBain, Jackie Ross, Grace Banks, Pauline Cordiner, Cara Silversmith and many more. Hosted by GAS (Grampian Association of Storytellers) and Elphinstone Institute. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 27 Sep-Sat 8 Nov) This stunning collection of ink illustrations and ceramics by emerging artist Hester Aspland draws lines between traditional stories and wild places. Atmospheric, observational landscape studies and explorations into folklore and fairy tales inform detailed, textural works which blend inspiration from the Golden Age of Illustration with a contemporary focus on the connections between women and nature. Book illustrations for projects working with the stories of Duncan Williamson and Tom Muir are shown alongside other evocative works traversing the landscapes and stories of Scotland, Iceland, Ireland and the Faroe Islands. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Wed 5 Nov: 7:30pm - SOLD OUT) The moon begins to form as the moon spinners wash their wool in the sea, winding it again into a white ball in the sky and re-creating the phases and cycles that guide our seasons, and our stories... ~~~~~ Join us for our quarterly series of full-moon celebrations, with live storytelling, music and a rotating programme of incredible performers. Following the Celtic Wheel of the Year (the quarterly seasons of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhuinn) we look forward to moon myths, lunar legends and cross-cultural stories, revealing themes of creation, fertility, cosmic joy, transformation, death and rebirth. For our November session we welcome you under the full Beaver Moon with another exciting lineup of storytellers, this month featuring Bea Ferguson, Selina Graham and Heather Yule, with Claire McNicol and Linda Williamson. ~~~~~ Moonspinners events will follow two distinct phases, with the first half of performance in the Netherbow Theatre, followed by a social and conversational flow upstairs in the Storytelling Court with a chance to digest and discuss the stories amongst friends old and new. Come early for a warm, community meal of haggis, neeps & tatties from The Haggis Box before the Moonspinners performance. It’s free for all ticket-holders, and if you wish, you can make a pay-what-you-can donation to support the Edinburgh Food Project, who run 7 foodbanks accross our city. The community meal will be served from 6pm to 7:15pm. We will be able to cater for most dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free & dairy-free). You do not need to let us know in advance. Mark it in your diary, or just follow the moon to guide you here! ~~~~~ Image credit: Hester Aspland
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7 Nov: 5pm - Stornoway) Storyteller Alex Patience from Portskerra returns to her granny’s native shores to share traditional stories and knowledge spiced with a wide range of North Atlantic culture, arts and nature. Hosted by An Taigh Cèilidh, 16 Church St, HS1 2DH ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 7 Nov: 7pm - Dundee) SISF joins wi Blether, the monthly Scots variety nicht fer an evening fou o sangs, stories, poems and mair! Wi guests Orcadian poet and scriever Harry Josephine Giles, Perthshire storyteller Lindsey Gibb and renowned Scots singer Christine Kydd. There’s open mic slots tae if ye fancy daeing yer thing for 3 mins. Emcees Calum Kelly and National Library of Scotland Scots scriever Taylor Dyson. In partnership wi Elfie Picket Theatre and Sweet Venues. from Sweden. At Sweet Venues, Keiller Centre, 3 Chapel Street, DD1 1DQ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 7 Nov: 7:30pm - Biggar) Join storytellers Peter Chand and Kirsten Milliken for an evening of evocative folktales and legends from their respective Indian and Scottish traditions about lake nymphs, enchanted mists, hidden realms and the water that connects us all. This event will now be held at Biggar Corn Exchange, 126 High St, Biggar ML12 6DL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 11am - Forfar) Eileen Budd shares the folklore of our Northern skies, stones and symbols as seen through the eyes of Picts and Vikings. After the storytelling session, create your own Viking or Pictish calendar, inspired by Eileen’s latest research into their fascinating symbols. Booking essential. At Meffan Museum, 20 West High Street, DD8 1BB. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 & Sat 22 Nov: 12pm) Come along for a nature-connection walk led by storytelling therapist Stephen McCabe, followed by printing from nature art workshop with Beetroots Collective’s artists Marta Adamowicz and Robert Motyka. Aimed at migrants and members of the local community. Please note: the meeting point for the walk is by the Scottish Parliament building at 12pm, look out for the Beetroots Collective banner. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Sat 8 Nov: 1:30pm - Dunfermline) Join Fife storytellers Riikka Palonen and Kate Walker as they make, sing and share stories of the sea from our Northern shores. Curious, crafty and clever tales! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Hosted by Lang Spoon Tales. At Queen Margaret Room, Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries 1 Abbot Street, KY12 7NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 3:30pm - Perth) Join storyteller Lizzie McDougall, clàrsach player Siannie Moodie and musician Nick Jenkins for an afternoon of music and tales inspired by Perthshire’s Jacobite past. Discover the legends of nearby Fingask Castle, brought to life at Perth Museum and in the shadow of a sword believed to have belonged to Bonnie Prince Charlie. At Perth Museum, St John’s Place, PH1 5SZ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 4pm) Join Randall Stevenson and Greg Walker, editors of The Oxford Handbook of Scottish Theatre, with playwright Linda McLean and storyteller Donald Smith, to explore this rich northern theme, past and present. Part of the New College Festival of Books and Belief. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Sun 9 Nov: 6:30pm - Aberfeldy) Respected by ancient cultures, but the archetypal villain in European fairy tales, wolves were hunted to extinction in Scotland by the 18th century. Through ancient myth, shadow puppetry and dreamlike soundscapes, Dougie Mackay and Jemima Thewes take us to a space where Norse gods, Irish shapeshifters and Siberian wolf-children traverse Scottish moors and Transylvanian mountains. Stories about our oldest ally share the same question: in the absence of the wolf, what is lost? Hosted by Birks Cinema, 1 Dunkeld St, PH15 2DA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 2pm - Dundee) The D’arcy Thompson Museum is a cornucopia of fascinating objects, all with their own unique stories. Join Blether Tay-Gither storytellers for an hour of strange and wonderful tales inspired by this eclectic collection. Hosted by Blether Tay-Gither. At the D’arcy Thompson Museum, University of Dundee, Carnelley Building, Nethergate, DD1 4HN ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 2pm - Biggar) Step into the Otherworld and follow the Path of the Little People with storytellers Kirsten Milliken and David Hughes. Hear tales of the creatures that live in the branches, in the faerie rings and behind the little doors. Includes free hot chocolate. At Wiston Lodge, Millrigg Rd, Wiston, ML12 6HT. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 7pm - Winchburgh) Myths, legends, local history and lived events are waiting to be shared in a rousing evening of stories in the company of an up-and-coming storytelling community in West Lothian. Hosted by Winchburgh Storytellers and featuring aspiring, apprentice and professional storytellers. Supported by the Winchburgh Community Development Trust. Event held at the Winchburgh Community Centre, Craigton Place, EH52 6RW. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 16 Nov: 1:30pm - Dunfermline) Join Fife storytellers Riikka Palonen and Kate Walker as they cast their tales of stormy seas, magic, romance, and valour. Stirring stories to astonish, surprise and sustain. Hosted by Lang Spoon Tales. At Queen Margaret Room, Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries 1 Abbot Street, KY12 7NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 19 Nov: 6:30pm - Online) Rooted in Northeast Scotland, Education in the North is a radical journal that spans the northern hemisphere, exploring education, culture and language. Through the years, it has provided a cèilidh space for ideas and initiatives to cross fertilise, pushing the boundaries of academic practice so that Indigenous and folk knowledge and practices are valued, and their place within education celebrated. To mark its 60th Anniversary, the event brings together editors, storytellers and other contributors lifting up this work across Canada, Scotland and Norway. Hosted by Cathy Francis and Beth Cross with guests Jackie Ross, Jamie Fairbairn, Liisa- Rávná Finbog and Jennifer Markides. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 21 Nov: 11am - Dundee) Ravens have always strutted through myth and legend. Odin had two pet Ravens called Hugin and Munin: ‘Thought’ and ‘Memory’. Join storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks for a collection of memorable, thought-provoking and dementia-inclusive stories and songs from Scandinavia and Scotland. Tickets are limited, please book in advance. from Sweden. At Royal Victoria Hospital Meeting Centre, Jedburgh Road, DD2 1SP. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 23 Nov: 2:30pm - Cove & Kilcreggan) Danish storyteller Svend-Erik Engh and Scottish musician Neil Sutcliffe present an original tale of a young woman setting out to create her own destiny in Viking times. Brought to life through storytelling & music, blending traditional and original pieces. At Cove Sailing Club SCIO, Barons Point, G84 0NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 23 Nov: 4pm) *This event has been rescheduled from Sun 2 Nov* Join host Niall Moorjani for an afternoon of amazing open mic storytelling designed as a safe space to tell new work, or try storytelling for the first time. New stories, old stories, folk stories, myths, legends, made-up stories and stories true to life - bring them all! A BPOC queer-run event welcoming everyone to enjoy the storytelling experience. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Fri 28 Nov: 10:30am - Musselburgh) Ravens have always strutted through myth and legend. Odin had two pet Ravens called Hugin and Munin: ‘Thought’ and ‘Memory’. Join storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks for a collection of memorable, thought-provoking and dementia-inclusive stories and songs from Scandinavia and Scotland. At Musselburgh Meeting Centre, The Coffee Lounge, St Andrew’s Church, 70 Millhill, EH21 7EA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Online On-Demand) Another Story is our podcast series exploring some of the themes featured in recent festivals. Tune in to hear some wonderful storytellers share their favourite tales and chat about storytelling in Scotland and beyond. So join us for Another Story... Available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple, Google and Amazon. Follow us by liking and subscribing so you don’t miss an episode! Listen Here
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Online SISF
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