Culture Crush: Best Heritage & Cultural Events to See in 2025
Atholl Highlanders Parade at Blair Castle
📍 Where: Blair Castle, Scotland
📅 When: 24 May 2025
Step into Scotland’s rich military tradition at the Atholl Highlanders Parade, an annual event that brings history to life at Blair Castle. The Atholl Highlanders—the only remaining private regiment in Europe—serve as the personal bodyguard to the Duke of Atholl, Chief of Clan Murray. While they no longer have an active military role, the regiment marches in full ceremonial dress, armed with Lee-Metford rifles, accompanied by a live pipe band.
The day’s programme of events runs from 11 AM to 3 PM, with highlights including:
🔹 Atholl Highlanders Talk (11 AM) – Join Archivist Keren Guthrie and CSM Garry Brailsford in the Ballroom for an exclusive insight into the history and traditions of the regiment.
🔹 Grand Parade & Cannon Firing (2:30 PM) – Gather at the forecourt of Blair Castle for the spectacular annual parade, featuring a live pipe band and the firing of the castle’s ceremonial cannon.
Shakespeare at Dunnottar Castle: Much Ado About Nothing
📍 Where: Dunnottar Castle, Scotland
📅 When: 27 August 2025
Experience Shakespeare like never before at Dunnottar Castle, where the rugged cliffside ruins set the stage for a high-energy, open-air performance of Much Ado About Nothing.
This year, the Handlebards—the cycling Shakespearean troupe—bring their charmingly chaotic and environmentally sustainable theatre to this spectacular historic setting. Carrying their entire set, props, and costumes on the backs of their bikes, they deliver a performance packed with hilarious antics, boundless energy, and clever storytelling.
With waves crashing below and the medieval fortress towering above, this unique outdoor theatre experience is truly one of a kind. Pack a blanket, bring a picnic, and enjoy an unforgettable summer evening of Shakespeare under the open sky.
Pride and Prejudice by Illyria Theatre at Lamport Hall
📍 Where: Lamport Hall, Northamptonshire
📅 When: 12 July 2025
Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with a sparkling open-air adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, performed by the acclaimed Illyria Theatre. This witty and fast-paced production has captivated sell-out audiences across the UK and Europe, earning nationwide critical acclaim.
Against the stunning backdrop of Lamport Hall’s Walled Garden, join Lizzy Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as they navigate a whirlwind of balls, dinner parties, and very eligible officers—all while battling their own pride and prejudice. Can they overcome their differences to find happiness, or will their stubbornness keep them apart forever?
If you think Jane Austen is all stuffy period drama, think again—Illyria’s sharp-tongued and lively adaptation brings her witty, romantic, and biting social comedy to life in a fresh and engaging way.
