Collective Gala

Join Collective Edinburgh on Sunday 7th September as Collective Gala returns with a full day of activities!

About Collective Gala

	7th September 2025
	11am - 5pm
	Collective Edinburgh City Observatory 38 Calton Hill, Edinburgh New Town EH7 5AA
	This is a free event
	Visit the event website here
	Facebook information can be found here
	Follow collective_edin on Instagram

Listed Under Days Out Events / Arts and Crafts Events / Community Events / Family and Kids Events / Music Events / Shopping Events / Tour Events

Explore newly commissioned artworks by Scottish artists, join behind-the-scenes tours, shop with local makers, sample Edinburgh’s new Cafe Calton, and enjoy creative play sessions for children. The day will culminate in a celebratory procession inspired by Gala traditions – led by artists Seamus Killick and Quinie.

Following the procession will be a live music performance by Scottish artist and performer Quinie, also known as Josie Vallely. Quinie’s multi-disciplinary practice blends folk traditions, walking, song, storytelling and visual art to explore Scots language, memory, land and belonging.

For Collective Gala, Quinie explores how we celebrate our local communities through our remembered and imagined traditions. She will unveil an artwork inspired by the panoramic view from Calton Hill, collaging together the Gala traditions of the towns and communities seen from the top of the hill.

Activities and schedule:

All day activities will include the opportunity to see and buy work from local makers; enjoy food from Cafe Calton; view a new artwork by artist Quinie inspired by the view from Calton Hill; explore the architecture of the site; and check out our summer exhibitions Fire on the Mountain, Light on the Hill and Panorama: New Views of a City.

Scheduled activities include:

Creative play sessions for families led by artist Seamus Killick
Edinburgh Astronomical Society tours of the historic Cooke Telescope
A historical tour of Collective and Calton Hill by author, poet and founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association Lisa Williams
Talks from Collective’s team about our summer exhibitions and our site
The day will culminate in a celebratory procession on Collective’s site and a live music performance by local artist Quinie accompanied by her band. The procession, featuring two specially invited ponies, is inspired by the Scottish traditions of gala days and Common Ridings.

We will be announcing the full schedule soon – please keep an eye on our social media and our website for details. All activities will be bookable on the day.

Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.

All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.

GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!

Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!

Other Events at Collective Edinburgh

Exhibitions

Mercedes Azpilicueta: Fire on the Mountain, Light on the Hill

20th June 2025 - 7th September 2025

Collective Edinburgh, Edinburgh New Town

Collective are delighted to presents the first solo exhibition in Scotland of visual and performance artist Mercedes Azpilicueta!

Exhibitions

Panorama: New Views of a City

9th July 2025 - 21st December 2025

Collective Edinburgh, Edinburgh New Town

Collective Edinburgh's Panorama programme takes inspiration from the origins of the panorama to explore how we see, move through and understand the city today.

Similar events you might like...

Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation

Selected dates between 1st March 2025 - 28th December 2025

The Real Mary Kings Close, Edinburgh Old Town

Uncover the secrets of 17th-century medicine with a hands-on workshop led by an expert from his time: Dr Arnott, who examined his patients’ health by analysing urine’s colour, smell & TASTE!

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme Open Garden: Humbie Dean

Selected dates between 19th March 2025 - 27th August 2025

Various Locations East Lothian

Come and visit Humbie Dean, a two-acre ornamental and woodland garden sandwiched between two burns at 600 feet with interest throughout a long season!

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme Open Garden: A Blackbird Sings

Selected dates between 12th April 2025 - 6th September 2025

Longniddry

This long garden in a corner site of Glassel Park Estate is planted mostly by plant type with water features and an unheated conservatory contains cacti and insectivorous plants.

Ghosts - Tales of Terror at Lauriston Castle

Selected dates between 24th May 2025 - 27th September 2025

Lauriston Castle, Edinburgh West

Come along and see the sights of Lauriston Castle as never seen before – hear the history of the castle and ghostly tales of the city!

Monday Makes

Selected dates between 7th July 2025 - 25th August 2025

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh East

This summer, join us at The Palace of Holyroodhouse every Monday in the Great Gallery to make your very own trinket box to take home.

Tea and Talks

Selected dates between 17th July 2025 - 9th September 2025

Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh West

These tea and talk sessions deliver a series of small-scale talks from the RZSS team in the stunning setting of the Mansion House at Edinburgh Zoo.

The Secret Room at Lauriston Castle

Selected dates between 7th August 2025 - 20th August 2025

Lauriston Castle, Edinburgh West

Enjoy one of the most magical experiences at the Fringe as three expert magicians illustrate Lauriston Castle’s intriguing past with magic, illusions and sleight-of-hand!