Things to do in Aberdeen Off-Campus

Are you thinking of coming to study in Aberdeen but are unsure what it would be like to live in the Granite City? We’ve rounded up just some of the cool events which happen in Aberdeen each year, the perfect way to let your hair down off campus.

Enjoy Music Festival

I bet you never knew we had our own music festival up here in the North East of Scotland! Enjoy Music Festival is a two-day festival held on the first weekend of June. You have the chance to see a variety of different performances over two days. Famous acts from last year’s event included Sigma, Basement Jaxx and Faithless. The festival is held at Hazelhead park and shuttle busses are provided to take you from Union Street to the park each day. There are lots of fun activities on-site including a small funfair area. In addition, other fun factors include bars located across the site and multiple food vendors selling street food.

You can find out more about the festival here.

Inspired Nights on The Green

This one is for all of the foodies out there. Aberdeen Inspired have hosted many a successful street food market on The Green. Running from April – September, different food vendors from across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire gather on The Green to showcase their delicious food and drinks. This outdoor event brings people together over their love of food in the aid of supporting local traders and businesses within the city. 

You can find out more and see the full range of dates for the food market here.

Nuart Festival 

Over the past two years, artists have taken over Aberdeen City centre as part of the Nuart Festival which celebrates street art. The festival allows local, national and international artists to showcase their work across the city. From painting huge pieces on the sides of buildings to small paintings in doorways, the city really does come alive. You are free to wander around and view the art on your own or you can take a guided tour. 

You can find out more information about Nuart here.

Dance Live

If you like to move, this one’s for you. Dance Live is a week-long festival which takes place in October. You can expect a broad programme of contemporary dance, performance and live art. The aim of the festival is to celebrate creativity, diversity and experimentation and is part of a wider project produced by City Moves Dance Agency. As well as the festival, the agency provides classes, workshops, community projects and professional artistic support to Scotland’s Dance community.

You can get involved here.

Sessions Beer and Gin Festival 

This is another outdoor festival held at the beginning of August. Located at Hazelhead Park, you can expect lots of different beer, gin, prosecco and food vendors. The three-day festival has previously seen over 2,000 craft drink enthusiasts gathering in the summer evenings. Additionally, alongside the food and drink, there are live music acts providing entertainment. Whether you are looking to try some new and exciting craft drinks or are more interested in the live music from local talent, there will be something for everyone.

You can find more information about Sessions Festival here.

The Event Complex Aberdeen

This is Aberdeen’s newest event space set to open this year. The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) is replacing the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. This new state of the art complex will host some world class acts all year round. Acts already confirmed include The Vamps, Elton John and comedian Jack Whitehall. The venue is a massive 48,000 square feet and this superior arena aims to change the event scene in Aberdeen.

For event listings and tickets, click here.

In short, we know studying at university isn’t all about lectures and reports. We hope this post has given you a little insight into what it’s like to live in the vibrant city of Aberdeen.

Lastly, for more information about living in Aberdeen, check out our Handy Guide to Aberdeen Student Accommodation post.


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