St Duthus
Bed & BreakfastHalkirk, Caithness, KW12 6YH
What’s On
Caithness has much to offer throughout the year ~ Highland Games, art exhibitions, live music and lots more…..
2021 ~ owing to covid restrictions all scheduled events are subject to alteration ~ some will continue to be organised online and we hope you will enjoy the efforts of all involved.
SCOTLAND’S HISTORIC SITES ~ castles etc, including Skara Brae on Orkney, are reopening from 30 April but visits may need to be booked in advance. See www.historicenvironment.scot
SCOTTISH OUTDOOR ACCESS ~ Know The Code Before You Go. Check what you should know…outdooraccess-scotland.com
ANNUAL EVENTS
HALKIRK HIGHLAND GAMES
2021: July 31…sorry, not going ahead afterall
Always the last Saturday in July
A smaller event was being planned this year ~ travel restrictions may have prevented participants from other countries attending
CAITHNESS ARTISTS EXHIBITION
2021: 1-31 July ONLINE
85th Annual event ran online in July 2020 with 359 pieces, most were for sale
MUSIC IN THURSO
2021/22 season: September-April (dates to be advised)
As an example of Music in Thurso, the 2020 schedule was as follows:~
February 18th: Holland-Savaloni Duo (flute and guitar);Schubert, Grannados, Piazolla
March 20th: Antonine Trio (horn, baritone, piano); Vaughan Williams, Strauss, Copland
April 8th: Brodick String Quartet; Beethoven 250th Anniversary programme
The usual venue of The West Church in Thurso will continue
MEY HIGHLAND GAMES
2021: August 7, 10am-5pm ~ sorry, another event postponed until next year
John O’Groats
Highland & Cultural Games, and Scotland’s only Adaptive Para-Athlete Highland Games.
The Duke of Rothesay (Prince Charles’ title when in Scotland) is Chieftain of the Games.
CAITHNESS INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL 1-31 MARCH 2021
The annual Science Festival went digital this year with a series of free online events
Entertaining speakers, exciting experiments…lots of fun but educational too
Craters, cryptology, meteorites, plants and animals, forensics, live-diving, stargazing, the moon, offshore wind, human digestion, space hub Sutherland, science of gin, and ex-NASA astronaut Duane ‘Digger’ Carey presenting ‘Escape to the Moon’ and ‘Our Shared Journey to Space’. And not forgetting the Spectacular Science Show!
JOHN O’GROATS BOOK FESTIVAL
2021: April 24 onwards
3rd annual event, online this year.
Organised under the auspices of the John O’ Groats Development Trust.
Visit Facebook
CAITHNESS SHOW
2021: July 16 & 17 ~ not going ahead owing to covid restriction uncertainties
County Show to be held in Thurso this year (held alternate years in Wick/Thurso)
www.caithnessshow.co.uk
DOORS OPEN DAYS ~ get into buildings!
2021: Caithness region ~ 19 September ~ Wick Heritage Museum
Access to newly refurbished Cowie’s building adjacent to the Museum, plus other events within the Museum which is situated in the historic Thomas Telford-designed Pultneytown
HIGHLAND ARCHAEOLOGY FESTIVAL
A digital version of the Annual Conference was held over two weeks during September/October 2020 ~ a series of free online evening talks
Example: Friday 25 September was ‘Megalith or Overkill? Rethinking the multiple stone rows of Caithness and Sutherland’
(a talk given by Dr Kenny Brophy of the University of Glasgow)
SPECIAL TREATS COMING UP…
SCOTTISH OPERA
Opera Highlights ~ some touring in 2021 ~ check online what’s free to view in your own home!
Usually presented at different venues each year, sometimes in our region during Spring.
(Opera Highlights was presented in Halkirk’s Ross Institute in 2018 – excellent evening!)
POP-UP OPERA ~ socially-distanced audiences ~ see website for news and booking
NORTHERN PILGRIM’S WAY
The Northern Pilgrim’s Way group encourages people to explore this little-known part of Scotland.
It is expected to declare the Way open during 2021 with services in Tain, Thurso and Orkney. Owing to the possibility of covid restrictions being in place, the events may be recorded onto YouTube if they go ahead. Check the website for updates.
Pilgrimage Events
29 May ~ St Duthac’s, Tain, 2pm
3 July ~ Old St Peter’s Kirk, Thurso, 12.30pm
20 August ~ East Church, Kirkwall, 12noon
SCOTTISH NATIONAL SHEEP DOG TRIALS
Back in Caithness for the first time in 29 years!
19-21 August 2021
Venue: 7 Holding, Forss, Thurso KW14 7XU by courtesy of the Shearer family, Lythmore Farm, Thurso
DISCOVER THURSO FESTIVAL
28 August – 11 September
A celebration of our coast and green spaces with events, workshops, activities, walks and talks. The festival includes an art exhibition and watersport taster sessions.
The event ends in Harbour Day.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
WICK PIPE BAND
Pipe Band Hall, High Street,Wick
www.wickpipeband.org ~ also on facebook
Weekly Scottish Variety Shows, July-September.
Street Parades during the summer.
The band performs at many local events ~ shows, Games, galas…
THURSO PIPE BAND also performs throughout the year at local events and in the Street Parades.
LYTH ARTS CENTRE, Lyth, Wick ~ lytharts.org.uk
Theatre, music, film, art, workshops…
DURING COVID RESTRICTIONS ~ both on and offline activities were planned for the 6 months October-March ~ keep an eye on the website!
MERLIN CINEMA, Thurso ~ merlincinemas.co.uk
Films and Event Cinema (live streaming of Royal Opera House and National Theatre productions).
Movie & Meal Deals £14.25 (£12.25 concessions)
ORKNEY
A variety of music festivals and other events run throughout the year ~ plenty of info online.
