Festival 2026
The To Absent Friends festival takes place across Scotland from 1-7 November 2026.
It is an opportunity 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.
Below is a list of the events taking place around Scotland and online.
These listings are live, so new events will be added in the coming weeks. If you have an event or activity you’d like to add, please email details to samara@palliativecarescotland.org.uk.
Space To Remember
Organised by The Junction
Wednesday 4th November, 5.30pm - 7.00pm
86 Great Junction Street, Edinburgh, EH6 5LL
This activity is for young people aged 12-21 in Edinburgh.
An event for young people aged 12 -21 in Edinburgh, where they can engage in creative activities to explore grief and loss, whilst remembering people or pets who have died.
There will be opportunities to craft, make art and/or do some creative writing - the event will be in the style of a remembrance café - with soup, snacks and support. We will also provide access to separate sessions for any young people who would like to engage in these activities one-to-one (or in family groupings) rather than in a group environment.
The Junction is a multi award-winning organisation established in 2005. We are a safe, friendly, confidential project that offers a wide range of health-related services, education and support to young people, with a focus on Leith and North East Edinburgh. We promote the long-term prevention of health problems, work to raise young people’s awareness and self-esteem, and to enable them to make informed choices about their health and wellbeing.
This activity is supported by a To Absent Friends small grant.
The event is free, however places are limited - so please contact us to book one.
Email aprilwendy@the-junction.org or text 07526204317
Celebration of Life Event
Organised by Pepperwood - Burnlea House Care Home
4 November 2026
Burnlea House, Largs
This activity is for the Burnlea House community.
Burnlea House Care Home will be holding a celebration of life for those who we have lost, and also for residents remembering loved ones, be they family, friends, or beloved pets. Afternoon tea will be served, utilising recipes from the To Absent Friends cookbook. Those who have died will be remembered with a personalised Swarovski ornament in the display cabinet in the QE 11 Suite.
Invitation extended to friends, families and local community connections.
This activity is supported by a To Absent Friends small grant.
Image credit: Bronty Woodard via Unsplash
In Memory We Grow
Organised by Urban Roots
4 November 2026
Toryglen Community Base, Glasgow
This activity is for the Urban Roots community.
The event will take place in a local community garden where we run weekly gardening sessions throughout the year. This is a warm, inclusive and welcoming space where many people, particularly women, come together to plant, share stories, support one another, and find a sense of calm and connection in their day-to-day lives.
The event will offer participants a gentle and meaningful way to remember a loved one by planting a flower in their memory. They will then be able to care for it during our weekly sessions, allowing the tribute to grow over time within a supportive community setting. This shared activity will provide space for reflection, remembrance and connection, while also helping to strengthen relationships between participants and the wider gardening community.
This activity is supported by a To Absent Friends small grant.
Recipes of Remembrance
Organised by Cowal Hospice Trust
4 November 2026, 1:30-3:30pm
CHATS/Cowal Community Hospital, Dunoon PA23 7RL
This activity is open to the public. Please register in advance.
As part of To Absent Friends, we invite you to join us for a special gathering celebrating the memories of loved ones who have died.
Food often carries stories, traditions, and treasured memories. A favourite meal, a family recipe, or a special bake can connect us to those we miss and help keep their memory alive.
We would love you to bring:
- A recipe that reminds you of a loved one who has died
- A favourite dish they enjoyed or were known for making
- A written recipe, photo, memory or story to share with others
Together, we will create a warm and welcoming space to remember, reflect on, and celebrate the people who remain important in our lives.
Whether you come along to share a recipe, a memory, or simply to listen, everyone is welcome. Remembering through sharing food, stories and connection.
For more information and to book your place, contact Shaun Miller 01369 708363.
Photo credit: Matt Alazia via Unsplash
A Celebration of Lives Remembered
Organised by Cosgrove Care
4 November 2026
Glasgow
This activity is for the Cosgrove Care community and is by invitation only.
Cosgrove, with support from To Absent Friends, will host a special event to celebrate the lives of those we have lost and continue to remember. This heartfelt gathering will bring together family, friends and members of the Cosgrove community to share memories, reflect on cherished moments, and honour the lasting impact they had on those around them. Through their kindness, laughter, friendship and love, they touched many lives and created memories that continue to be treasured. The event will provide an opportunity to celebrate their lives, remember their stories, and find comfort in coming together with others who knew and cared for them. Their legacy lives on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know them.
This activity is supported by a To Absent Friends small grant.
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