The beloved Lewis music festival HebCelt has received a hat-trick of prestigious awards, recognising its contribution to the local area, as well as its green credentials and cultural significance.
The festival received the Cuach Comunn Leòdhas agus na Hearadh Ghlaschu award from the Glasgow Lewis and Harris Association, which is presented to those who have brought honour to the island.
The Outer Hebrides Tourism Association named HebCelt the Best Green and Sustainable Business in Lewis and Harris, and most recently the festival won the Outstanding Cultural Event award at the Highlands and Islands Thistle Awards, the festival’s third time winning in this category, having also been honoured in 2014 and 2017. The winners of each category go on to be finalists at the Scottish Thistle Awards National Final, which will be held in December.
Taking place between Wednesday 12th and Saturday 15th July, HebCelt 2023 brought a £3.6 million boost to the local economy, welcoming over 19,500 music lovers to the spectacular Lews Castle Grounds, with a total of 70 performances, including 40 in the main arena, taking place over the course of the week. Over its 25-year history, the festival has grown from a small event attracting less than 1,000 fans to an international showpiece for roots, Celtic and traditional music.
HebCelt Chair of the Board, Gayle Findlay, said: “We’re over the moon to have received these three fantastic awards for HebCelt. It means the world to be recognised for the things we value the most when organising the festival – the effects on the local community, the environmental credentials and the cultural impact. None of it would be possible without our incredible volunteers, and this recognition, combined with the positive findings of our recent economic impact report, gives us a great sense of pride and excitement as we progress our plans for next year’s festival.”
HebCelt 2024 will take place 17 – 20 July. For more information visit: www.hebceltfest.com.
