Coronavirus in Scotland: Beltane in Edinburgh and Orkney Folk Festival cancelled

The Beltane Fire Festival had been expected to attract up to 8000 revellers to Calton Hill at the end of next month.

Organisers made the announcement in the wake of the Scottish Government’s call for all indoor and outdoor events for more than 500 people to ease pressure on the emergency services.

The government has since advised people across Scotland to avoid crowded areas and large gatherings to help “slow” the spread of the virus.

Up to 8000 revellers had been expected to gather on top of Calton Hill for the annual celebration of the arrival of summer in the city at the end of this month.

Organisers of the Orkney Folk Festival also pulled the plug on this year’s event, which was due to be held at the end of May, days after the same action was taken over the Shetland Folk Festival.

Orkney’s event, which has been running for nearly 40 years, was expected to feature leading Scottish artists like Skerryvore, Blazin’ Fiddles, Talisk and Karine Polwart.

Proceeds from this year’s Beltane Fire Festival were expected to be donated to eco-charities under a drive to reduce the carbon footprint of the festival.

However the Beltane Fire Society, which stages the event, said it would have “socially irresponsible” to go ahead with the festival, which is traditionally held on the last night of April.

The event has only been cancelled once previously, due to a dispute with the city council over the use of Calton Hill, since the event was instigated in 1988.

An official statement said: “Although this is a sad situation for everyone involved, after careful consideration the society’s volunteer organisers felt cancelling the event was the right decision to make given current public health concerns and to provide adequate notice to those who had hoped to attend or take part.”

Bradley Mcarthur, chair of the society, said: “We are committed to ensuring our events are a safe space for all attendees to celebrate the changing seasons and it was felt it would have been socially irresponsible to allow the event to go ahead as usual.

“This is aligned with the statement made by the First Minister last week, advising all large public gatherings over 500 people should be cancelled.

“Although this will only be the second time in 32 years that the Beltane Fire Society have not celebrated Beltane on Calton Hill, we cannot ignore the potential risks for transmission that could arise from facilitating this public event.

“This is for the safety of all those attending, those that would be contracted to work with us, our dedicated volunteers and all those that would come into contact with them.

“We deeply appreciate those that were excited to come along and celebrate the changing of the seasons with our community and we know this will be disappointing news for those who had specifically planned to travel for this event.

“The board is offering to transfer any ticket previously purchased to our next festival or refunds are available on request.

“We would like to specially thank all of those who applied to be group organisers and volunteers for this festival and were dedicated enough to give up their time to help us celebrate Beltane. We know this news will be deeply hard for them as well.”

The announcement from the Orkney Folk Festival said the event had been left with “no choice but to sit this year out.”

The festival’s statement added: “Public health and all necessary precautions must come first.

“We are therefore looking forward to returning in 2021, and are currently in discussion with all of this year’s artists in hope that we can still welcome them - and all of you - to the festival, albeit a year later than planned.

“Many have already confirmed, and we will make further announcements in due course.

“In the meantime, please keep supporting musicians and artists in these uncertain times - many of whom have seen the vast majority of their income for the next few months vanish in a matter of days.

“Buy merchandise, commission tunes or learn an instrument from them via Skype.

“Our website links through to their sites and social channels, and many are offering some pretty cool things to sustain a wage over the next wee while.”