In Pictures: Looking back on Falkland's Big Tent Festival

Proclaimers among headliners at much loved event
By Allan Crow
Published 24th Jul 2020, 00:00 BST
Updated 24th Jul 2020, 15:51 BST
The perfect setting for a festivalThe perfect setting for a festival
The perfect setting for a festival

It was the festival which grew in scale but never lost sight of its roots - and it sat in the very heart of Fife.

Big Tent Festival brought thousands of families and music fans into Falkland Estate between 2006 and 2013.

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It’s 2012 event, which featured The Proclaimers as headliners, was held eight years ago this weekend.

Building the big tents at Big Tent 2012!Building the big tents at Big Tent 2012!
Building the big tents at Big Tent 2012!

Big Tent was more than just a music festival, and it was much loved.

It was genuinely family friendly, with so much for children to do and explore as they flocked to a huge range of arts, crafts and storytelling sessions held in giant tents. Youngsters under 12 got in free of charge.

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It had its own chill out zone where alternative therapies were on offer - a tranquil oasis away from the main stage, in the sleepy hollow, and there were opportunities to explore the beauty of the estate and see at first hand the work it does.

Big Tent was very family friendly, and was a first festival experience for many youngsters - Amelia Cooke (6, Haddington), Leon Reynolds (5, Brechin), Colin Reynolds (2, Brechin) in their mini-yurt in 2012Big Tent was very family friendly, and was a first festival experience for many youngsters - Amelia Cooke (6, Haddington), Leon Reynolds (5, Brechin), Colin Reynolds (2, Brechin) in their mini-yurt in 2012
Big Tent was very family friendly, and was a first festival experience for many youngsters - Amelia Cooke (6, Haddington), Leon Reynolds (5, Brechin), Colin Reynolds (2, Brechin) in their mini-yurt in 2012

The music line-up was incredibly varied, while there were also discussions on key issues of sustainability which brought in many great speakers including Lesley Riddoch and author Ian Rankin who tackled the question of ‘what makes Fife, Fife.’

And it had food which was miles away from the standard burger vans you see at music festivals - in fact, the festival was the catalyst for the launch of the Fife Diet by Mike Small, one of the team behind Big Tent.

Big Tent was launched in response to the G8 Summit at Gleneagles, by Falkland Centre for Stewardship, and its audience grew from a few thousand to over 11,000.

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Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

2010 headliner, Roseanne Cash, with festival organiser, Ninian Crichton Stuart2010 headliner, Roseanne Cash, with festival organiser, Ninian Crichton Stuart
2010 headliner, Roseanne Cash, with festival organiser, Ninian Crichton Stuart

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Related topics:FifeIan RankinYoungsters