Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival |
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| Genre | Alternative, indie, folk |
| Dates | Second weekend in August |
| Location(s) | Kiltarlity, Scotland |
| Years active | 2004 - present |
| Capacity | 25,000 |
| Website | http://www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk |
The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival is a big music and arts festival held every year in Kiltarlity, Scotland. It takes place on the beautiful Belladrum Estate. The festival started in 2004 and has grown to welcome over 20,000 people. It's known for being very family-friendly and playing a wide variety of music.
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What is the Belladrum Festival?
The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival is famous for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere. It's a great place for families, and children under 12 can even get in for free. There is a large campsite just for families.
The festival features many different kinds of music, from alternative rock and indie to folk music. It has hosted some of the biggest names in music over the years.
More Than Just Music
Belladrum isn't just about the bands. It's a full arts festival with lots to see and do. There are many different areas to explore:
- For Kids: A special children's area offers puppet workshops, arts and crafts, circus skills, and even dance and music classes.
- Entertainment: You can watch comedy shows, wrestling, and amazing performances.
- Other Fun: In the past, the festival has had ice rinks, roller discos, and even a zip line!
Stages and Performers
The festival has many stages, each with its own vibe. The Garden Stage is the main stage, set in beautiful Italian gardens. Other stages focus on different music styles, like rock, folk, and electronic dance music. There are also stages for new and upcoming bands.
Over the years, many famous artists have performed at Belladrum. Some of the big names include:
- Madness
- Tom Jones
- Ed Sheeran
- Lewis Capaldi
- The Proclaimers
- Jess Glynne
- James
- Manic Street Preachers
- Travis
- Two Door Cinema Club
- Kaiser Chiefs
- Emeli Sandé
- Nile Rodgers & Chic
Annual Dress-Up Themes
A fun tradition at Belladrum is the fancy dress theme. On the Saturday of the festival, everyone is encouraged to dress up according to the year's theme. This makes the festival colourful and exciting.
Here are some of the themes from past years:
- 2025 - Bella Goes To The Moovies
- 2024 - Love
- 2023 - Cartoons
- 2022 - Myths and Legends
- 2019 - Science Fiction
- 2018 - Bollywood
- 2017 - Summer of Love
- 2016 - Superstition
- 2015 - Superheroes
- 2014 - Wild Life
- 2013 - Carnival
- 2012 - Royalty
- 2011 - Space
- 2010 - Wonderland
Festival History
The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival started in 2004. The first event was just one day long, with 2,000 people attending. It was held in Belladrum's Italian Gardens, which is now the location of the main stage.
Since then, the festival has grown bigger and better. It now lasts for three days and attracts a much larger crowd. In 2008, it won an award for being the best "Grass Roots Festival."
The Festival Fringe
In the past, there was also a "Fringe" festival. This was a series of free music events in pubs and bars in the two weeks before the main festival. It helped build excitement and showcased lots of different musicians from the Highlands.
