Oban is hosting a three day spectacle of Highland culture as the 33rd Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival takes place this weekend.
Starting today, more than 1,100 participants will compete in 125 competition classes in 11 disciplines and new fringe events.
Competitions include piping, drumming, accordion, fiddle, piano, recorder, woodwind, brass, singing, dancing and choreography.
They take place in venues throughout the town, including St John’s Cathedral, Oban High School, St Columba’s Cathedral, the Regent Hotel and the Corran Halls.
One of the festival highlights is the Accordion and Fiddle Master’s competition, which takes place in St John’s Cathedral tonight.
The top accordion and fiddle players from the main championships throughout the country are invited to take part.
Highland dancing will provide a spectacle throughout the weekend, with the Scottish Area Finals taking place in Atlantis Leisure tonight, and further dancing competitions take place tomorrow and Sunday.
The Scottish Choreography Challenge is also not to be missed, with performances at the Corran Halls throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Alongside the competition, there will be fringe events at venues across the town throughout the weekend.
Victoria MacLean of the festival organising committee said: “We have got lots of competitors entered and we expect to see more than 3,000 people coming to Oban for the festival. Hopefully the sun will come out.
“We have made a big effort to expand our fringe events to try to encourage more people to take part. We have got lots of things going on throughout different hotels, pubs cafes and shops in Oban and surrounding area, right the way up to Appin.
“Although the competitive side is the main part of the festival we are hoping to appeal to lots more people who want to come to Oban and just soak up the festival atmosphere.”