Festival 2024

People who have died remain a part of our lives – their stories are our stories, yet many Scottish traditions relating to the expression of loss and remembrance have faded over time.

To Absent Friends gives people across Scotland an excuse to remember, to tell stories, to celebrate and to reminisce about people we love who have died. To Absent Friends, a People's Festival of Storytelling and Remembrance is an opportunity to revive lost traditions and create new ones. 

The next annual To Absent Friends festival will take place across Scotland from 1-7 November 2024.

How to get involved

If you'd like to plan an event or activity for your community or for the public, you can find some ideas here or by looking through the listings for past festivals. We also have resources for how to take part online or in private.

Each year, we run a Small Grants Scheme to support organisations in putting on events and activities. Guidance and the application form will be available at the end of summer 2024.

If you have questions or want to discuss ideas for To Absent Friends 2024, please email samara@palliativecarescotland.org.uk.

Photo credit: Friends of Southern Necropolis