Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival announces three-day virtual festival 'Bella's 12 Days of Christmas'

TOP Highland musicians, a Gaelic panto, and magic show are among the acts set to delight fans at a special, free virtual festival from the team behind Belladrum.

' A Very Bella Christmas', which features the three-day virtual festival, gets under way this Friday. The festivities also include a family activity book alongside Bella's just released charity single, ‘Bella’s 12 Days of Christmas’.

Organisers promise "a true snapshot of Belladrum with a sprinkle of Christmas magic" during the three-day event from December 18-20 – including live music, storytelling, magic, family shows, a quiz and a Gaelic Panto. The free event is supported by Event Scotland and can be watched live or at a later date through Belladrum's official Facebook and YouTube pages.

Highlights of the programme include; "Party At Your Place! With Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival" – the already announced live music night in aid of Highland Hospice – which will involve a virtual Christmas party for the public's co-workers, families and friends. It will feature live music from Dark Horse Wedding & Function Band and will be hosted by Bella 2019 highlight Miss Scarlet Diamonte.

Musical highlights across the three-day festival weekend include sets from Torridon, Project Smok , Calum & Sean from Hò-rò, the Bella Carol Singers and a live Bella Bar singalong with Andy Duncan, who has lead the camp-fire singalong at the Bella Bar, closing this stage for the past few years at the festival.

A spokesman added: "We are delighted to have a special Christmas show from family favourites FunBox, our very own Bella Christmas Bedtime Story, a Gaelic Panto brought to us by Fèisean nan Gàidheal, a magic show, and our interactive Family Quiz.

"A Family Christmas activity pack is also available to download from our website and social media pages for you to print off at home for free. The pack is filled with festive fun including, quizzes, word searches, crosswords, craft activities, recipes from some of our wonderful traders, experiments and much more.

"Rounding up the Christmas activities our is our charity single release, with a Bella inspired 12 Days of Christmas, re-written by Hamish Macdonald and featuring, Julie Fowlis, Gary Innis (Mànran) , Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5, Torridon, The Dangleberries, rhythmnreel and James Mackenzie. The second track features a version of Silent Night by pupils from Bella’s local primary school Tomnacross Primary."

All funds raised from the sale of the single will be donated to Belladrum's 2020/21 lead charity partner ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’.

The charity single can be bought from https://belladrumfestival.bigcartel.com/products and downloaded from https://belladrumfestival.bandcamp.com/.

For more information about the festival, visit www.facebook.com/belladrum.

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