Community Land Festival 2025: Successes and Opportunities
16 December 2025
What we learned
The 2025 Community Land Festival offered a rich tapestry of events across Scotland, and feedback from participating groups provides valuable insight into what worked well — and where there are opportunities to grow in the future. These learning points will be valuable for festival organisers planning future editions, and for communities considering how they might participate in the years ahead.
- Hands-on, participatory activities: Craft workshops, pumpkin carving, treasure hunts, woodland lantern-making, and guided walks engaged attendees of all ages.
- Intergenerational engagement: Events brought together children and adults, strengthening community connections and fostering a sense of belonging.
- Cultural and heritage experiences: Storytelling, local history tours, films, and music performances enriched events and offered meaningful opportunities to celebrate local identity.
- Practical support from Community Land Scotland: Bursaries, printed posters and flyers, press release templates, PR guidance, and social media promotion were highly valued, helping groups deliver successful events.
- Flexibility and adaptability: Groups adapted to weather, timing, or logistical challenges, ensuring their events remained successful and enjoyable.
- Festival umbrella effect: Being part of a national initiative provided visibility, legitimacy, and motivation for groups to host their events.
- Annual rituals: For some communities, the Festival has become a key part of their local calendar — for example, Annan Harbour and Culbokie now host pumpkin and Halloween celebrations every year.
- Continued support through the Festival and bursaries: For many groups, there are no alternative funding streams that can cover the costs of hosting a Community Land Festival event. Without the CLF and the small bursaries provided, several events simply would not have taken place.
- Guidance for larger or multi-site events: Additional planning support and resources would help groups expand their reach.
- Timing considerations: While a few groups suggested exploring alternative times of year, the autumn/Halloween slot is valued by many as it provides an easy and natural focus for seasonal celebrations. Balancing flexibility with the benefits of the current timing will be important.
- Audience growth: Further promotion and outreach could help groups attract people beyond their regular community base.
- Collaboration and partnerships: Opportunities to share expertise, volunteers, and resources across groups could enhance the quality and reach of events.
- Showcasing creative projects: Many groups wanted to highlight skills, arts, crafts, and community achievements more prominently.