Kelburn Garden Party 2025

A festival at a castle in a glen… it sounds magical. And magical it was. Kelburn Garden Party returned for its 15th year of music, dancing, and all-round whimsy and the Mic's Abi Kara-Fernandes writes about her experience.

Having had friends rave to me about how good Kelburn is since the day I met them (I can still remember one of them pulling up the previous year’s poster during our university ‘welcome to the course’ lecture), I was finally convinced to overcome my aversion to camping and dip my toe into the wonderful world of Kelburn.

At first, it felt like the world was against me. With a yellow weather warning in place for the weekend, and my car deciding to break down the day before I had to drive it, stuffed full of camping gear and giddy festival-goers, over to the West Coast of Scotland from Edinburgh, we were off to a slightly soggy start. But with a freshly fixed car, and a quick trip to Go Outdoors and Asda for last-minute essentials, I powered through the great Scottish weather. After setting up camp, I headed to the Viewpoint Stage for my first taste of what was yet to come.

Baque Luar graced the stage - a percussion and vocal collective bringing Afro-Brazilian beats that soon had me dancing in the rain, warming both body and soul, and kick-starting the evening like no other. The rest of the night was spent eagerly exploring every stage, including Kelburn’s flagship dance arena, the Landing Stage, where Lezzer Quest lit up the night, as well as the slightly more peaceful Peaches in the Plaisance, tucked away behind a walled garden.

Peaches in the Plaisance ended up being where I spent the majority of my weekend at Kelburn. A queer-led music café with an alcohol-free bar, it was truly a safe space that brought DJs and good vibes all weekend. From the EHFM Breakfast Show to start the morning, to traditional Colombian protest songs, right up to electric trance sets to end the night, it had a little bit of everything—an incredible crowd, stunning decor, and all nestled amongst the trees.

Just beyond the Plaisance sat the Retreat Corner, for those who wanted a moment away from the hustle and bustle of the festival. Sound baths, yoga, and meditation sessions ran throughout the day, along with the option to treat yourself to a cheeky massage—especially welcome after sleeping on a roll mat, an air bed, or, if you're like me, directly on the tent floor after my roll mat decided to soak up all the rain that snuck its way inside our tent.

With the festival situated in the ‘Never-Ending Glen’ and the sun finally deciding to show face on Sunday, many people also chose to take a quick dip in the glen. Having spent the majority of the weekend damp from the rain, I opted instead to explore the beautifully decorated area - from the tea cave to numerous art installations, all the way up to the Boat on the Hill. While some people hopped on the Bumpy Bus to get there (yes, this stage is that far away), I huffed and puffed my way up the hill before dancing away on the top deck of the boat, soaking up the sights of the Clyde and Inner Hebrides it overlooked.

Every inch of Kelburn really did feel magical. As an Indian woman, I also found it heart-warming to see so much influence from different cultures throughout—from the artwork to the workshops. However, it would’ve felt even better to see this reflected in the diversity and authenticity of the businesses brought in to run these sessions and food stands. This definitely won’t be my last Kelburn Garden Party—and I can’t wait to see what next year brings (perhaps some stickers for the merch stand…).

---

Edited by Bethany Coldwell

Images courtesy of Kelburn Garden Party on Facebook