Frequently Asked Questions
Where is it again?
It's at the Coo Cathedral in the grounds of Aboyne Castle Estate, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.The Coo Cathedral is a very grand Victorian building originally built to house very lucky cows. Now its gothic architecture lends a great atmosphere to our festival!
The Castle Estate is to the North
of Aboyne which is on the A93
35 miles west of Aberdeen.
When you get to Aboyne follow the festival signs on road north out of the village towards Tarland
and the entrance to the Estate is on your right just beyond the 60 mph
signs.
Follow signs for the car park and are friendly stewards will guide you
from there.
So, is it outside?
The
music and stalls are inside - food, storytelling, some stalls and all the fire is outside.
The building
is unheated, so please come prepared.
There will be lots of fires to warm you though and of course once you get dancing…...!
Can we bring the kids?
Yes, please do and
Granny and Gramps
too, as this is a family festival.
We recommend you come in the afternoon when there will be specific
activities for children.
Please ensure you look after your children throughout, as this is a fire
festival!
Some take their children home early, but we prefer if you keep them up late to enjoy all the fire events - at least till the fireworks and fire dragon at about 9pm.
Do the kids need tickets?
We have altered our pricing structure this year to make things fairer for families. Please see the Tickets Page for details. Everyone will receive a wristband upon entry and we ask that you write your mobile no. on the wrist band of very little ones in case they get lost.Can we let our teenagers come along?
Of course, they are most welcome.
However, we would like you to be there with them to share the fun or
for them to have an adult responsible for them at the event.
Can I leave and come back?
You will receive a wristband when
you arrive in exchange for your ticket.
If it's still on your wrist when you come back you can come and go as
you please.
Is everything included in the ticket price?
We can promise you a great
party for the ticket price, but not miracles!
Bring some golden nuggets for your food, drink, stalls and some workshops!
Is there somewhere I can play music?
Please join others for a jam round the bonfire or in the Acoustic Geodome.
Can we bring our own booze?
Sorry, but no.We have a licensed bar and the law says you can only drink what we sell.
But, hold on a minute have you seen what we are selling?! Not only will we be serving a range of the usual beers, but also, on tap, award winning locally brewed delights to wet your whistle, from Hillside, Glenkindie and Cairngorm breweries! Also be tempted by a range of spirits, soft drinks, our 'secret recipe' mulled wine, and for a really special treat Cock 'o the North Whiskey Liqueur! Oh, and don't forget to try Mutley's home made Lemonade.
Aboyne & Upper Deeside Rotary Club will be running the bar and
the profits will be donated to local charities of their choice. Slainte!
Can we take our drinks off site?
To reduce litter outside the site we will ask you to drink up before you leave the gate.
Can I get a cup of tea?
Yes, we will have tea, coffee and wonderful hot chocolate.
Will there be food?
We have 3 food vendors.Geoff of Mutley's Crepes from Edinburgh will be cooking
to order superb (mainly) organic pancakes both savoury and sweet.
Kevin from Latino's Restaurant of Nairn will be providing a choice of mouth watering Mexican food to put some fire in your belly! And for something really special we will have The Chocolate Tree from Edinburgh with their amazing range of handmade oh sooo nice Belgian delights!
I'm vegetarian / vegan / vulcan, will their be food for me?
We will have vegetarian / vegan
food available.
If you have any other requirement, give us a call or feel free to bring your own food.
Can I bring my dog?
No, no, no! No goldfish, horses
or giraffes either.
We shall be letting off fireworks and we don't want to cause any distress
to animals.
We also don't want your animal distressing any humans.
Even if you think your dog will be ok, we don't want the hassle.
So please leave Fido at home or we'll have to ask you to take him home.
Disabled access?
The venue is on one level and accessible to wheelchairs and there is a toilet for the disabled.The surface outside is fairly well packed gravel and level grass.
It may be dark outside at night, so if you have poor sight you might want to bring a friend. Please inform stewards on arrival if you wish to drop a disabled passenger near the gate. If you are a disabled driver and need to park near the venue, please phone in advance. There maybe strobe lighting used, but we will do our best to keep within the safe limits, set by the experts on epilepsy, of below four flashes per second.
Where's the toilet?
There are lovely toilets in the building, we would like to keep them that way! : ) There will be port-a-loos outside and at the campsite too.Where are all the bottles and other waste going?
We will be recycling everything we can - even waste food will be composted! Please use the bins provided.Will my mobile work?
As far as we know, all networks
have coverage at the site.
There is no public phone on site, but there is one in the village.
Can we camp?
Yes, for the first time we have camping this year. Tents, Caravans and Campervans are all welcome, though we can't provide you with electrical hook-ups. There will be port-a-loos, water and overnight security in the campsite. Please use the main bonfire rather than starting your own in the campsite. The bonfire is also the place for making music, so please keep the campsite music to those snoring. If you want your hot-water bottle filled before you snuggle down, please ask at the bar or food vendors! Oh, and Mutley's Crepes will be open in the morning for breakfast, what a nice guy!Can I get a taxi home?
Yes, but please book it in advance.
Cromar Taxis 013398 86550
Aboyne Taxis 013398 86715
Is there a bus from Aberdeen?
Catch the Fire Fest Bus - The planet friendly travel option!
We run a bus from Aberdeen to Aboyne and back again!
Bus Tickets will be available at the end of September from our Aberdeen ticket seller One-Up Records, Belmont Street. Times and details will be up on this site once the tickets are on sale. A public bus running between Aberdeen & Ballater also stops a short walk from the site.Can I bring along some fireworks?
We have a professionally organised
display that will be better than anything you can buy in the shops.
So, please for safety reasons, leave yours for bonfire night.
If you're seen with any, they'll be taken from you and returned the
next day.
You've been warned!
O.K., what about sparklers then?
Sparklers are great and the safest
way to play with fire!
We suggest you get the coloured ones, as they are sooo cool!
Buy a few packs - 'cause they don't last as long as they used to when
you were a kid……
and chocolate bars did used to be bigger, didn't they?
Can I do fire poi and the like?
If you bring your own
fire toys and
are competent in their use, you are welcome
to perform in the fire performance area - after 9pm only please.
You do so at your own risk.
Please stay safe and do not drink alcohol and then play with fire.
Please do not let others use your kit, unless you know they are experienced.
Please only bring paraffin in the container you bought it in and put it in your car
when not using it or ask us to store it. Only use our containers
for dipping.
We have a strict policy of no
Fire Breathing or Fire Eating!
Whatever you are doing with fire - if our safety people say, 'No' - it's No, ok!
But hey, if you like playing with fire... do you want to be in the Fire Show?
Click here to find out more.
This all sounds a bit Pagan and Anti-Christian
to me?
Not at all. We are not Pagans
and this is not a Pagan, Druid or Wicca festival.
We are creating something NEW that is embracing of all faiths, beliefs
and cultures.
We come from a very mixed faith and cultural background and seek the truth
of all belief structures
as guides to bring harmony and peace to ourselves, our community and our
world.
This is simply a festival of
life and a time to celebrate and remember the wisdom of our ancestors.
Please read the History page for more details.
Yes, but you don't know what forces you are playing with do you?
Yes, we do.
So that's all for now folks!
See you there for a fiery experience!!
If your questions haven't been answered, please contact us via the contact page