ARTWORK BY HESTER ASPLAND

As the colder months settle in with the turning of the wheel, that familiar crescendo of drums and sparks of flames will burst upon Holyrood Park once again! Samhuinn 2024 is ready to bring the fire!

Join us for Edinburgh’s immersive Samhuinn Fire Festival 2024 for a night of magnificent fire-play and acrobatics, amidst a cavalcade of otherworld creatures as we bring in the changing of seasons in Edinburgh and witness the epic battle between Summer and Winter.

Samhuinn Fire Festival is a cultural staple of Edinburgh, inspired by the Celtic tales of the turning of the wheel. Witness the epic battle between the Summer and Winter Queens unfold as the Cailleach prepares for transition into winter. 

Tickets are now sold out. There will be no tickets available on the gate, if you haven’t got a ticket please stay away from the festival. If you have bought a ticket and can no longer attend, please request a refund so that we can release your tickets for sale. Refunds will only be processed up until 2359 HRS on the 30th October, after this time the normal refund policy will apply.

Please beware of scammers on social media and secondary ticket selling sites.

EVENT INFORMATION

ACCESSIBILITY
For details of special access arrangements (including requesting a companion ticket and booking prearranged vehicle/taxi drop off please contact  access@beltane.org (after you have purchased your own ticket). This email address is not for general ticket enquiries: they are sold out. The Accessibility Inbox will be monitored until 23:59HRS on the 30/10/2024

FOOD & DRINKS
You are welcome to bring your own food and drink to the event, and we only ask that you do not bring any glass bottles/containers. Also Security will refuse entry if you are bringing an excessive quantity of alcohol (e.g. a giant slab of lager). The Glass Rule applies to fine whisky’s so please dont bring glass containers filled with things you want to keep, as they will be confiscated and the glass recycled.

We have a small range of food concessions run by local businesses and serving a selection of delectables to keep you going. There will be vegan options available.

SEATING/STANDING/GROUND CONDITIONS
We do not have any seating, attendees are welcome to bring camping chairs – but please follow the instructions of the Stewards and Security, there are some areas (or times) which chairs may not be appropriate. Please take everything you bring away with you. Please do not stand in front of someone sitting in a chair.

The ground in Holyrood Park is uneven and when its raining the grass becomes slippery. Despite our best efforts to have lots of fire and temporary event lighting – it is deepest darkest October on an New Moon and some parts of the park will be very dark

• wear sensible shoes (good walking boots)
• take your time moving around the site
• bring a torch/flashlight/lantern
• please help each other

TOILETS
We have a small number of chemical toilets located near to the catering units; please go to the loo before leaving the house.

There is also a stewarded wheelchair accessible portaloo located in the welfare/first aid area.

Please use them considerately and leave them for the next person as you would wish to find them.

Do not urinate on trees/walls/bushes/doorways in the park or in the city.

WASTE/LITTER/RECYCLING
There will be additional waste bins in the park for you to put in your waste. We have Dry Mixed recycling and general waste, and all waste is sorted, separated and and processed for recycling off site. Please help us minimize damage to the park by either binning your waste or taking it home with you – leave no trace!

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

Children/U16s
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult with a ticket
Parents and guardians please note – this event contains semi-nudity and uninhibited behaviour, your discretion is advised.

We will ask for the adults name and number at the box office, and children will be given a wristband to wear with your details on them.

Safer Spaces
Beltane Fire Society events operate within a culture of creating safer spaces built on mutual respect and consent. We expect all attendees to embrace this culture and to call out breaches – seek a steward if you see something which endangers our safer space.

BFS aims to provide a welcoming and celebratory atmosphere. Harassment of performers or other audience members will not be tolerated.

Being Around Fire at a Fire Festival
Help yourself by staying out of performance and production areas, which will be marked out with either ropes, barriers or fences with signs

• The event does include a lot of fire, although there wont be any big fire works nor a bonfire.
• Follow the directions given by BFS Stewards and technical crew
• Please avoid wearing synthetic clothes (but do wrap up for being outside in Scotland)
• Please try to observe a 2 meter minimum distance from performers moving or performing with fire.
• Familiarise yourself with where the medical assistance is (the ambulance in the car park).
• Do not play with the fires, our volunteers have trained for months to be here this evening..

Use of Cameras and Smart Phones

• Flash photography can be very distracting for performers, we ask that you switch off the flash on your phone or camera.
• Please do not hold your phone or camera in the faces of our participants, they are volunteers and do not enjoy close proximity interactions with phone and camera lenses.
• Drone use is not permitted on site and the police will be called should a drone come into the airspace above the festival.
• We would much prefer it if you kept your devices in your pockets and celebrated the festival with us with your hands free to clap and your eyes free to watch
• Do not walk backwards holding a camera/camera phone, the ground is uneven and you won’t be paying attention.
• Prohibited items
  We do not permit members of the public to bring or use the following items on our event site;
• Large Bags/airport luggage – please no bigger than an A3 piece of paper: we do not have a cloakroom/left luggage.
• Glass
• Drums
• Loud instruments
• Fire Props
• Fireworks
• BBQs, Fire Pits or Fire Wood
• Flammable Liquids
• Dogs (Except Guide Dogs)
• Drones
  Random Search Policy will be in effect; the event safety team reserve the right to refuse admission .