Events
Moray offers an attractive range of spaces for holding outdoor events and we’re keen to see home grown community events thrive whilst attracting new events to the area.
The following information is provided to help you with planning to hold an outdoor event in Moray and to guide you through our event and licensing processes.
Depending upon the scale of your event and the proposed activities you may be asked to engage with the Council’s Events Oversight Group – a multi-agency advisory group chaired by our Community Safety team. Following submission of you initial events enquiry you will be expected to submit documents like your event safety plan, risk assessments and evidence of public liability insurance.
If you are interested in holding an event on Council owned or managed land, you can contact our teams who manage a range of spaces and facilities using the following links:
If you wish to enquire about holding and event at the Plainstones in Elgin town centre you can find further information and our contact details at Elgin Plainstones.
If you wish to film in Moray you can find further information and our contact details at Film Liaison Service.
If you wish to enquire about holding a funfair or circus event you can contact us here.
If you wish to enquire about holding and event at one of our harbours you can find further information and our contact details at Harbours
We have a range of attractive parks and open spaces that can be booked for holding an event.
Each park and open space is very different so please find a summary below to help guide you on which space to choose. Further details can be provided following receipt of your event enquiry form.
Charges for hiring an event space in a park or open space
The Council introduced charges for commercial events in open spaces effective from 1st April 2022. Further information on these charges is available in section G3 of our Charges for Services document which can be found here.
Community events are those which are organised by the community or voluntary groups, in support of the community for the benefit of Moray or local residents.
Charity events should be for the benefit of a charity registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator or Charity Commission in England and Wales.
Applications must be received from the charity themselves, or include a signed letter of endorsement from the charity.
Not for profit and/or charitable organisations must be able to provide a UK charity number and also demonstrate that all proceeds (over and above costs) will be for the charity.
Commercial events are typically accessible to the general public, but in some cases will include events which have an entrance fee attached to enter or participate in the event. This category includes funfairs and circuses which are included in our Charges for Services fee structure.
How can I apply?
To apply to use a Moray Council park or open space to hold an event and to receive further information and guidance, please complete the following Parks and Open Space Event Enquiry Form.
If you wish to enquiry about holding a procession, march, cavalcade or demonstration please find further information including our contact details here.
If you wish to enquire about holding and event in a street or on the road network, including town squares, you can find further information and our contact details here.
If you wish to make a booking for a sporting event held only on a sports pitch or pavilion you can find further information and our contact details at Booking for Grass football pitches and pavilions.
If you would like to enquiry about holding an event at any of the following venues, please use the service contacts provided above. Sports Pitches or Pavilions, Elgin Plainstones, Harbours, Roads or town squares. You can also contact us to enquire about Filming or holding a Procession.
To enquire about holding an event at a Moray Council park or open space and to receive further information and guidance, please complete the Parks and Open Space Event Enquiry Form.
Before applying to hold an event in a park or open space there are many things to consider to ensure you’re your event is safe, compliant and successful.
Depending on the type of event you would like to hold you may be required to obtain licenses, permits or other permissions. Further information can be found here.
Please note – depending on the size, location and type of your event it may take up to 6 months to ensure your event has complied with all required safety measures. Please leave yourself ample time as even applications for small events take a minimum of 4 weeks to process.
You will also need to consider and provide information on how you will manage safety, waste disposal and how you will protect the park’s infrastructure and ground from damage.
We recommend that you look at our draft templates to help you with planning your event. Further information, including the recommended Event Safety Management Plan – Outdoor event template, can be found here.
You can also find useful information of the types of measures we would expect event organisers to consider and plan for when holding an outdoor event in a park or open space. You can get further information at Guidance - Use of a Park or Open Space.
Further information on how to manage litter and waste at your event can be found here.