The Best Ceilidhs in Scotland

A ceilidh could be considered the ultimate Scottish dance - we love ceilidhs so much that they usually pop up at almost every notable Scottish event in the calendar. Whether it’s Hogmanay, Burns Night or New Year, any excuse to put our kilts on and fling each other about, we’ll jump at it.

Unsurprisingly, there are a number of venues across the country which hold ceilidhs pretty regularly, so we thought it would be a good idea to round up the best we could find. If you’re looking for the ultimate ceilidh and you don’t mind travelling to attend, you might find a few gems in this list that you could head to:

Oban is a great place to visit if you want to get a feel for what Scotland is really like, and attending a ceilidh during your trip there is an absolute must. At Skipinnish Ceilidh House, there are regular 2 hour ceilidhs held every month. The expert guides on hand will ensure you have the ultimate Highland experience. It’s a proper ceilidh with live music including bagpipes, accordion and traditional singing. Kids go free and it’s only £9 for adults.

As the capital of the country, you won’t be shocked to learn that Edinburgh has some of the best ceilidh venues and nights in our guide. There are weekly public Ceilidhs held in the stunning Auditorium at Ghillie Dhu, a bar/restaurant in the centre of the city. If you want an extra special night at this venue then be sure to attend the Hogmanay ceilidh.

We should note that this venue is situated right next to our Edinburgh shop - so if you're looking for the ideal place to purchase your ceilidh outfit from for a night out at Ghillie Dhu, our shop is the perfect choice.

Sloans is a venue in Glasgow which hosts arguably the best ceilidh in the city. Every Friday from 8.30pm - midnight, their house Ceilidh band ‘Chitterybite’ perform live, with all of the popular dances including the Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow and The Dashing White Sergeant. Tickets start from £8 and your best bet is to book as early as you can, as this is a very popular evening!

Situated in the Old Town area of the capital, Summerhall is a grand building which hosts ceilidhs every Tuesday from 8pm-11pm. Dance callers will be present, so this event is ideal for novices and veterans alike. Tickets can be bought on the doors but as with all of these events, it’s recommended that you buy in advance to avoid having to just be a spectator!

Taking place down in the Scottish Borders in Carfraemill’s oak-paneled Campbell Room, this regular ceilidh events offers a night you won’t easily forget. It’s a meal and ceilidh all in one - enjoy wine and canapés, followed by their delicious celebration buffet supper, then some pudding and coffee. If after all that food you’re up for a jig, it kicks off at 7pm with the locally based Ian Lowthian Ceilidh band providing the music for a lively night of Scottish reels, lively ceilidh, wonderful local food and great company.

It’s not just in Scotland where you’ll find a great ceilidh - even in sunny Hawaii, there are groups holding regular ceilidhs and getting lots of people up on their feet. The ‘Aloha Winter Weekend’ is an annual event held in Honolulu, which features a 3 and a half hour ceilidh accompanied by live music and an expert instructor. You might see more hula skirts than kilts, but it still feels like a very Scottish affair. And the best part of the evening is the name of the band playing - they’re called ‘The Humuhumunukunukuapua’a and Strathspey Society Band’, try saying that after you’ve had a few whiskies!

Held the night before the incredible New York City Tartan Day Parade, the NYC Tartan Day Pre-Parade Ceilidh is a fun-filled evening of entertainment and music. There's plenty of traditional Scottish dancing of course, as well as plenty of food and drink (with Scottish inspired cuisine on the menu too). Music comes from the very popular Scottish Ceilidh band called Whisky Kiss, and there is traditional highland dancing performed by Shot of Scotch, New York City’s Premier Highland Dance group (2 groups with whisky in their name means you're definitely in for a good night!).

The best part about this ceilidh is that we're attending! We'll be there at the 2019/20 event, so keep an eye out for a member of our team.

Ceilidh Culture

Ceilidh Culture is an annual ceilidh festival held in Edinburgh during the Easter time. The festival includes folk music, singing, dancing and even storytelling. The festival typically consists of a month-long programme of events. Ceilidh Culture first took place in 2003, although Edinburgh has always had similar festivals with traditional ceilidh music. We love this festival and it has made an important contribution towards keeping the Edinburgh ceilidh scene alive.

Hopefully the above list has made you realise that ceilidhs are taking place across the country and beyond, and that if you’re up for a dance you can find a great ceilidh in lots of different places! If you’re planning to attend a few ceilidhs this year and you need to take some appropriate clothing, why not check out our kilts and dancewear.