Coronavirus in Scotland: Beltane Fire Festival in Edinburgh under threat over clampdown on large events

Edinburgh’s world-famous Beltane Fire Festival could be one of the first major outdoor events in Scotland to fall victim to the restrictions on “mass gatherings” in Scotland.

Around 8000 people were expected to attend the Beltane Fire Festival at the end of next month.

Organisers of the event, expected to attract 8000 revellers to Calton Hill on 30 April, will hold an emergency meeting on Monday after the Scottish Government ordered that events for more than 500 people should be cancelled to protect the resilience of the emergency services.

Bradley Mcarthur, chair of the Beltane Fire Society, said: “This news is obviously disappointing for our hard-working volunteers who put a lot of time into ensuring our festival can happen to mark the changing of the seasons.

“We fully support the need for ensuring the public’s health in the current pandemic and understand the need to reduce the strain on Scotland’s emergency services by looking at cancelling large public gatherings.”

The Beltane Fire Festival has been staged on Calton Hill in Edinburgh since 1988.

The government said it would be issuing guidance within the next few days on how events would be affected.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Event organisers should take action now to help our emergency services deal with the scale of the challenge we face with coronavirus.

“Our frontline services are doing a fantastic job but they are already under pressure, which will increase as the number of cases in Scotland rises.

“The emergency services are well prepared to deal with this outbreak but mass gatherings, such as large football and rugby matches, as well as concerts, can have a significant impact on emergency service resources.

“Removing unnecessary burdens on our frontline workers is the right thing to do so they can prioritise their response to where it is needed most.”