Highlights of Scotland's 2017 Year of History, Heritage, and Archaeology

VisitScotland has unveiled some of its highlights of its 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, offering visitors the chance to relive the country's fascinating past through a range of events and activities.

A Great Roman Bake-Off, large scale projections of Viking imagery, a live archaeological dig of St Kilda in Minecraft and a colourful international weaving festival, are just a few of the events lined up to make history in 2017. Highlights of the year include:

Edinburgh Georgian Shadows, Edinburgh

23 Feb – 26 March 2017
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Edinburgh's New Town, Edinburgh Georgian Shadows will bring the past to life using the modern city through the innovative use of lighting. The event will reveal the story of the New Town, which will be explored across six of the town's most interesting and history-rich buildings, where the lives of the town's first inhabitants and characters will be explored through light projections.

Tradfest Edinburgh, Edinburgh

26 Apr – 7 May 2017
This annual showcase of traditional arts and culture in Scotland's capital spans across 12 days and nights, and offers a full and varied programme of events. Inspired by the traditions of May Day and Beltane, Tradfest is a celebration of music, storytelling, dance, drama, film, craft and art.

Mary Queen of Scots Festival, Kinross and Loch Leven

September 2017
Celebrating the rich cultural history and heritage of the Kinross area, most notably its famed connection to Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, the Mary Queen of Scots Festival 2017 will commemorate Mary's life. The festival will take place over a weekend in September (exact dates TBC) with a programme that will include living history encampments, music, food and drink. Kinross is around an hour by road from Glasgow.

Scotland boats six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One is New Lanark, a former 18th century cotton spinning mill village around an hour from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. It will use light and sound projections to recreate the mill as it was in the heart of the Industrial Revolution. Another, a group of Neolithic monuments on the island of Orkney, will light up thanks to glow-in-the-dark paint for a special event with interactive storytelling and music.

With a rich cultural heritage that focuses on the history of its clans, the year will also see events such as the Clan Maclean International Gathering 2017, Burnett Gathering, Clan Hay 'Tartan Ties' and Stewart Highland Games.

The year also provides the opportunity to promote and celebrate a much wider programme of events celebrating Scotland's history, heritage and archaeology. Partner events within the year include Celtic Connections (19 Jan – 5 Feb) – Britain's premier celebration of Celtic music – and a series of events celebrating poet Robert Burns.

The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017 will begin on 1 January 2017 and end on 31 December 2017. For more information see the VisitScotland website.