Nairn Book And Arts Festival – an annual celebration of literature, art and music in the Highlands – will make a welcome return this weekend.
From when the event will take place to who will attend, here’s everything you need to know about Nairn Book And Arts Festival.
What is Nairn Book And Arts Festival?
Now in its 19th year, Nairn Book And Arts Festival is a family-friendly festival. Taking inspiration from Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, it will feature a creative takeover of Nairn’s High Street with a storytelling fancy dress theme.
Attendees can also look forward to author talks, street theatre, live music, storytelling, exhibitions, creative workshops and more.
When does the festival take place?
Nairn Book And Arts Festival will bring the annual celebration of all things art and literature to Nairn from Saturday August 27 to Sunday September 4.
What’s the ‘creative takeover’ of Nairn High Street?
The festival will kick off on Saturday August 27 with the street takeover. There will be a parade with hand-painted silk flags by Kinetika, circus and stilt walking entertainment from Fly Agaric, live music from Feis Nairn, acapella choir The Accidentals, Nairn’s Gaelic Choir, and more.
Which authors will take part in the festival?
A host of critically-acclaimed and award-winning authors from Scotland and across the UK will make an appearance, including Walter Scott Prize-winning author James Robertson discussing his seventh novel News of the Dead.
While Andrew Greig will talk about his latest historical fiction novel Rose Nicolson, Iain Cameron will reflect on Scotland’s winter mountains with his book The Vanishing Ice. In addition, Sean Lusk will discuss his debut novel The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley – the Scottish Book Trust’s book of the month for June.
Will the festival’s popular Wine and Crime event return?
Yes. It will feature award-winning author Martin Edwards talking about his latest book The Life of Crime, a Q&A with LGBTQ+ writer Mary Paulson-Ellis, author of The Other Mrs Walker, and Jennifer Morag Henderson in conversation with Martin Edwards, discussing her biography Josephine Tey: A Life.
What about live music?
The Cattachs and Gallachs of the Grey Coast – a dynamic evening of music and poetry inspired by the far north and north-east counties of Scotland – is one of the highlights.
Popular singer-songwriter Martin Stephenson will be appearing with his Good Will Trio, too.
What’s planned for the festival finale?
The Festival Finale is set to take place on Sunday September 4, on Nairn links, and features a costumed Wandering Woodland – an environmentally themed procession for children, accompanied by local samba band The Penguin’s Tuxedo.
Kinetika’s Stories of Nairn flags will be installed at the Wallace Bandstand with artist-storyteller Lizzie McDougall uncovering the stories behind the flags.
Click here for the full programme.
Conversation