Oban Winter Festival
At The Rockfield Centre
Oban Winter Festival
Date: 15th -24th November 2024
The Laughing Mermaid & Other Stories
Part of Book Week Scotland
Tuesday 14th November
4pm
KidSpace
Welcome to an hour of funny folktales from Denmark with storytellers Svend-Erik Engh and Alice Fernbank, bringing you an assortment of stories from Svend-Erik’s book Danish Folktales. Meet laughing mermaids, giant snakes, a fat cat, a runaway sledge, giants, devils, and of course Vikings! Not suitable for children under 7.
Odin’s Eye and the Art of Seeing
Part of Book Week Scotland
Tuesday 14th November
7pm
The Oak Room
‘When a proton beam of radio therapy fires into my eye, ultraviolet auroras appear in my vision. An unexpected moment of beauty in a cancer treatment centre in the Wirral opens the doorway to a world of Asir and Vanir gods, and their epic quests in the pursuit of seeing.’
Storyteller Alice Fernbank shares a personal story of ill health and healing, threaded through the Norse tales of Odin, Gullveig, and Mimir. Directed by Kath Burlinson.
Children’s Storytelling Session
Friday 17th November
11am
Oak Room
Join us for a fun and festive storytelling session for children. Our session will be filled with exciting stories, engaging activities, and opportunities for children to share their own ideas and stories. Storytellers to be announced
Jingle Jumper Upcycle Workshop
Friday 17th November
4pm
Rowan Room Café
Jingle Jumper Upcycle is a jumper upcycling workshop that aims to promote sustainability and creativity during the festive season. During the workshop, participants will learn how to transform old or unused clothes into unique and stylish jumpers using simple stitch and embellishment techniques. Bring in your old jumpers and breathe new life into them!
Teud: The Hebridean Fiddle Project
Friday 18th November
Doors 6.30pm, Performance 7pm
Oak Room
The Rockfield Centre welcome TEUD for a live performance, as part of The Big Tune weekend.
Bauble Crafting for Children workshop
Saturday 18th November
10am- 4pm
Rowan Room
Come and make a wonderful ornament in this creative workshop where children can make their own shiny baubles! This workshop is perfect for children who love to get crafty and creative. Materials are provided. £2 per bauble
The Big Tune Workshops
Saturday 18th November
12pm-4pm
Oak Room
The Big Tune is back for it's winter edition!
Bring your instruments and join us for our second all-day session celebrating the best of Scottish cèilidh music. We will be taking over The Rockfield Centre, where every room will be filled with incredible musicians sharing a tune!
A Journey For Happiness: The Man Who Cycled to Bhutan
Sunday 19th November
11am
Oak Room
Christopher spent a decade researching happiness, but he felt frustrated at how difficult it was to live the findings of his own research. To deepen his explorations around happiness he set out to find another way. In this talk with Q&A, Christopher will recount his experience and share some insights in to what he learned along the way.
This Book Week Scotland event has been kindly funded by the Scottish Book Trust.
Merry & Bright Glass Painting Workshop
Sunday 19th November
4pm-6pm
Hawthorn Room
Join us for a chilled afternoon of festive glass painting! Revitalise old glassware into the ornament of your dreams. All materials will be provided, including glassware (we offer glasses for £1 each for painting or you can bring your own), paint, and brushes. No previous experience is necessary, and all skill levels are welcome. Come get into the holiday spirit and create something beautiful to take home with you!
The Big Tune
Sunday 19thth November
2pm-9pm
Oak Room
The Big Tune is back for it's winter edition!
Bring your instruments and join us for our second all-day session celebrating the best of Scottish cèilidh music. We will be taking over The Rockfield Centre, where every room will be filled with incredible musicians sharing a tune!
Monday 20th November
TBC
Kidspace
Join us for a fun and festive workshop where you can make your own magical and sustainable reindeer food! This is perfect for children and adults who want to add a touch of magic to their Christmas Eve.
Macrame Bauble Making for Children Workshop
Monday 20th November
4-5pm
Rowan Room Cafe
Our Macrame Bauble Making Workshop for Children will be a great opportunity for them to develop your creativity, imagination, and crafting skills. We will provide all the materials needed for the workshop, and you will be able to take your baubles home or to give as gifts. We hope to see you there!
Knot Your Average Bauble Workshop for Grown-Ups workshop
Monday 20th November, 5.30pm - 6.30pm
Rowan Room Cafe
In this workshop participants will be taught more complicated macrame techniques to create their own beautiful bauble to take home. Materials will be provided, and our café will be open for delicious cakes and drinks.
Rockfield Knit
Monday 20th November
7pm-9pm
Rowan Room Café
Bring your knitting projects and enjoy some company while sharing your knitting advice with others.
This is a perfect get together for anyone who enjoys knitting and a social environment. Learn from each other and share ideas in our creative space.
Holly Jolly Playtime
Tuesday 21st November
3pm (90 minute drop in session)
Kidspace
Join us for a fun and festive workshop where you can make your own magical and sustainable reindeer food! This is perfect for children and adults who want to add a touch of magic to their Christmas Eve.
Tuesday 21st November
4pm-6pm
Hawthorn Art Studio
A fun Christmas activity session where you will be able to make beautiful paper Christmas wreaths for your home and learn more about 3D paper art and model making.
All materials and equipment are provided.
Rockfield Knit
Tues 21st November
2pm-4pm
Rowan Room Café
Bring your knitting projects and enjoy some company while sharing your knitting advice with others.
This is a perfect get together for anyone who enjoys knitting and a social environment. Learn from each other and share ideas in our creative space.
Wednesday 22nd November
4pm-6pm
Rowan Room Cafe
In this workshop, learn how to make your own pom pom snowman, reindeer or Christmas pudding! Or get creative and make your own pom pom masterpiece! This is the perfect way to make use of those leftover bits of wool and to get ready for the festive season.
Wednesday 22nd November
2pm-4pm
Rowan Room Cafe
Join our Heritage Hunters with a new informal monthly session which will be held in the Rowan Cafe at the Centre.
This monthly “get together” provides a very informal social setting for shinty enthusiasts to meet up and celebrate the game of shinty.
What to expect: A warm welcome and cuppa with our heritage volunteers. Access to memories, pictures and artefacts gathered from previous exhibitions.
Crafting Your Own Upcycled Snow Globe
Thursday 23rd November
4pm- 6pm
Rowan Room Café
Create your own winter wonderland in a jar in this DIY snow globe workshop. All materials will be provided –Jars, ornaments and glitter!- or feel free to bring your own materials to make into a lasting keepsake.
Open Draw - DIY Screenprinting
Friday 24th November
5.30pm-8pm
Hawthorn Room
An open studio social session, for illustrators, doodlers and art lovers. This months taster is DIY Screenprinting. We’ll be sharing techniques on how to use everyday items to make your very own screen for printing. Materials are provided but feel free to bring your own.
Get your creative groove on and meet fellow art lovers. Nibbles and drinks are welcome and we'll have an eclectic playlist to keep you inspired throughout the evening. It's a great way to get cosy and creative in the winter months. An inspiration bookshelf, drawing materials and more will be on hand should you feel stuck!
Open to all (Children welcome but must be supervised by an adult).
Making art accessible for all, these sessions are run by donation.
Performance and workshop
Saturday 25th Workshop 11.30am, Sunday 26th November Performances 11am & 1pm
Oak Room
Join Poppy and her dog Peppy on this wonderful adventure as she launches across the canvas sky, at the speed of light, towards the Paper Moon. Throughout the show, there are lots of opportunities for children and adults alike to join in Poppy’s journey through movement, and we hope you will join us throughout so that you and your wee one have the best time ever together!
Alongside the show, Shaper/Caper will also be hosting an “A Day to Play” workshop for children aged 2-12 and their grown-ups, giving everyone a chance to get immersed in the world of Paper Moon, getting creative with the dancers and props. This production is generously supported by the Creative Scotland Touring Fund.
Sunday 26th November
10am-4pm
Oak Room
Join us for a Winter Wellness Market at The Rockfield Centre! To celebrate our Winter Wellness Weekend, we’re hosting a market full of local producers focused on wellbeing. You'll find everything from natural remedies and supplements to healthy snacks and winter produce. We will also be serving our famous mulled wine as well as a non-alcoholic mulled cider - the perfect way to get into the winter spirit!
Sunday 26th November
10am-4pm
Santa’s Grotto
Santa Claus is swapping the North Pole for The Rockfield Centre as he sets up camp for a day in Oban on Sunday 26th November.
Little ones are treated to a meeting with Santa in his festive grotto and a small gift.
