Festival goers heading to HebCelt next month are now destined for an out of this world experience - after uber popular Sci-Fi and fantasy collective OH!CON blasted into the line-up.
Tide Lines, Lulu and Skerryvore will soon be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Star Wars favourites Darth Vader and R2-D2, Daleks from Dr Who and Lord of the Rings characters across the site thanks to the island’s own comic con organisers.
Ticket holders are being invited to join in the fun by dressing up for a chance to be the first to win tickets to next year’s event.
It’s the first time OH!CON - the biggest Sci-Fi, comic con, games and cosplay group in the Outer Hebrides - has taken part in the award-winning festival outside their own event, happening again on October 11.
OH!CON’s gatherings in Stornoway attract hundreds of people every year. It’s first event sold out in just three days and it moved a record 450 tickets in 2024. Organisers hope its residency at HebCelt swells their legions further by allowing hundreds more to join in and sample the fun.
Director Kathleen Milne said: “It will have a mini Comic Con feel with dressing up, superhero masks, capes, table top board games for children and families to try out, a comic book making station so people can come in and make their own comic books, and fun STEM activities from University Highlands and Islands too with a Sci-Fi type theme.
“The idea of coming to HebCelt was first mentioned by our volunteers - the Fellowship - and so I reached out to the festival organisers and was blown away by their enthusiastic response. We’re thrilled that we can make it happen, it will be so much fun.”
Director John Hayward said: “We’ll have people dressed in cosplay there, Han Solo encased in carbonite, some droids, Lord of the Rings, Ghostbusters and various others. Hopefully we can also run some scheduled workshops with advice on how to make costumes.
“I reckon the Dalek will be a Lulu fan because of their shared era, Darth Vader will be rocking around to Skerryvore who are a real Force to be reckoned with, and the Ghostbusters getting down to Tide Lines who will be busting some moves of their own.”
Competition day this year will be held on Saturday, with festival goers being urged to don their favourite cosplay costumes and homemade outfits, with those keen to take part also urged to consider using recycled material for their creations.
And there is no age limit with a child winner and an adult winner selected by judges - so even big kids can take part too.
Kathleen added: “Children in particular always surprise with their creativity and innovation, and just allowing them to do that is brilliant. HebCelt will help us reach people who have never been to OH!CON, and give them a chance to see what it's all about.
“They can be whoever they want to be, it doesn’t need to be a Marvel character or a known superhero, it can be someone from their own imagination.”
Carol Ferguson, HebCelt’s Operations Coordinator, said: “We’re over the moon to have OH!CON join us at this year’s festival - it will be absolutely out of this world. There will be more fun, activities and dressing up than you can shake a lightsaber at.
“We cannot wait to see what kind of costumes festival fans come up with for competition day on the Saturday and a chance to win tickets for next year’s event - which after all isn’t really all that far, far away. It’s going to be a blast.”
The 2025 edition boasts one of the festival’s most diverse and exciting lineups to date. Some 70% of acts are either female led or featuring female members, and will feature headline performances from Scottish music legend Lulu, folk-rock favourites Skerryvore, and the ever-popular Tide Lines.
Others include singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt, Brit Awards winner Eddi Reader, live sensations Beluga Lagoon, Trail West, Kassidy, Tom McGuire and The Brassholes, Alasdair White & Keith Morrison, Astro Bloc, Cala, Cassie and Maggie, Ciorstaidh Beaton, Donnie Dòtaman, Elias Alexander, El Sartel, Fèis Eilean an Fhraoich, Iona Mairead, Isla Scott, Josie Duncan, Laura Silverstone, Lauren Collier, LUSA, Madison Violet, Malin Lewis Trio, NATI., Ruairidh Gray, Samba Sene & Diwan, The Tumbling Souls, and TRIP.
Festival weekend and day tickets are on sale now from HERE