Visit the Pittenweem Arts Festival

Explore local art and culture during your stay with us

Pittweem is a beautiful village in the heart of Fife, which encapsulates the spirit of the region. On a stay with us at Elderburn Lodges, Pittenweem is only a 20-minute drive away and makes for a great day out. With a working harbour that boasts daily catches from the sea and even a cave said to once be inhabited by a saint, it’s a picture-perfect location to visit at any time of the year. However, come August, every inch of the town becomes a large art display, with homes and even garages opened up to display some of the finest artwork from local artists.

In 1982 the creative minds of Pittenweem came together and decided to exhibit their works in the spaces available to them in the village. Since then the festival has only grown, now welcoming hundreds of arts and crafts people from all over Britain. This unique creative hub exhibits works in studios, galleries, houses and public spaces making even the means of exhibiting works an art in itself.

What to see at the Pittenweem Arts Festival

The 2025 Pittenweem Arts Festival will take place from 2nd to 9th August.

Set in ‘painters paradise’ next to beautiful seascapes and rows of colourful seaside cottages, the festival runs for a week and welcomes thousands of visitors. There is a choice of exhibitions displaying artists’ works in a variety of media. From stunning abstract seascapes to contemporary jewellery and captivating sculptures, you will marvel at what is around every corner.

Every year, an invited artist is featured. This year, it’s Gail McGarva. Her exhibition, Disappearing Lines, highlights fading boat and maritime traditions. Central to her display is the Story Boat, a restored Dorset fishing vessel turned miniature theatre. You can see Gail’s work, along with many other exhibiting artists, at this year’s festival.

There is also an action-packed programme of events planned. Highlights include the Festival Opening Gala on Saturday 2nd August. This is the official launch with fun for all ages. Then across the week, there will be many music, workshops, talks, performances and family events.

The perfect Fife day trip this August

The Pittenweem Arts Festival is definitely worth a day trip to experience. There is a stewarded car park available to make parking easy and you can pick up a colourful festival brochure there or in many of the venues to get a complete guide to what is on. You can also view the complete programme online.

Our Elderburn Lodges provide the perfect accommodation, just a short drive away in the beautiful town of St Andrews. If you haven’t yet booked, please take a look at our holiday lodges here and check availability here. At time of writing, we still have some lodges available in August!