Celebrate Scotland's National Bard at one of the fantastic Burns nights taking place this year.
As tradition has it, on January 25th we come together to celebrate Rabbie Burns' life and work at a Burns Night, featuring an Address to a Haggis, Address to the Lassies, Reply to the Laddies, spoken word, live music and a wee dram of whisky. If you've yet to make plans, consider one of the organised upcoming events in order to eat, drink and dance the night away.
Burns Hame Toun Celebrations!
Celebrate the Bard in Ayr, his ‘hame toun’, with town centre celebrations. Embrace the world’s first Burns supper drive thru, Burns live music nights, Burns 19, the only Burns Supper to take place in Burns Cottage, find out who wins the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award 2019 and much more.
The month of January is awash with Burns activity in South Ayrshire – kickstarting the 260th birthday celebration year in style. Exciting new events mingle with old favourites to create a programme the Bard himself would be proud of …
Burns Hame Toun (Sun 27 Jan 12-5pm) is a brand new Ayr town centre event in celebration of the Bard. The Wallace Tower stage will be hosted by Rabbie Burns himself and will feature The MacDonald Brothers, Clanadonia and more. It will also feature Burns Bairns Stage, Poet’s Podium, horse and cart rides, Landmarks Alive, Scottish street food, country dancing, An Awfy Braw Adventure Tour and much more family fun. The day ends with a Burning Burns Finale on the historic Auld Brig.
Burns Hame Toun Live Music Nights will take place in Ayr Town Hall. Friday 25th January will feature a trio of female Scottish talent in the form of Karen Matheson, Horse and Carol Laula. Saturday 26th January will star Manran (with support) and should get the floor stomping. Tickets available from thegaiety.co.uk or 01292 288235.
The World’s First Burns Supper Drive Thru (Robert Burns Birthplace Museum on Sat 26th and Sun 27th January between 3pm and 7pm). Choose from a Burns haggis supper, vegetarian option, haggis bon bons with skinny fries or a kids meal served in their very own Burns Cottage. You may even happen across a bit of poetry or song.
Burns 19 (Robert Burns Birthplace Museum on Sat 26th January between 6pm and 10pm). Think toasted marshmallows, mini fair and Burns playground, stilt walkers, fire jugglers, lantern making, music, food and drink and the burning of John Barleycorn finale.
All of this plus – Burns Suppers, afternoon teas, hoolies, wreath laying, conference, theatre performances, burning sculptures and much more! The Burns festival will run from Wednesday 23 – Sunday 27 Jan 2019.
Visit burnsfestival.com to find out more.
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Erskine
Erskine Veterans Charity is excited to announce it’s inaugural Burns Supper and Ceilidh, on Friday 25th January 2019. The event will take place in the prestigious setting of Glasgow Sherbrooke Castle Hotel, and will celebrate the life and work of Scotland’s National Poet Robert Burns.
The Burns Supper will be hosted by the charismatic “Voice of Tynecastle” - Scott Wilson, and will feature an entertaining address to The Haggis, a Toast Tae The Lassies and their reply and an Immortal Memory which comprises a full performance of Tam o’ Shanter. A delicious four-course meal will be followed by a ceilidh led by the energetic Scottish band, The Jiggers.
Wing Commander Ian Cumming, Erskine’s Chief Executive says “It is a little known fact that beyond being a national icon, poet and songsmith, Rabbie Burns was a veteran too – serving as a Private in the Royal Dumfries Volunteers. Had Erskine only been formed by the time Burns took ill, he could have lived in comfort and dignity in a nationally iconic veterans’ charity. We hope he would have approved of our celebrations which will become an annual event in the Erskine fundraising calendar.”
Tickets are priced at £75 per person and include a drink on arrival, four course meal with half bottle of wine, and entertainment courtesy of the Jiggers and a a live DJ set. And if you want to make a night of it why not book into one of the Sherbrooke Castle Hotel’s fabulously luxurious rooms?
Snap up one of the ticket offers before they all disappear: New Years offer £60 per person. Military Service offer £60pp (20% discount on full price ticket). Tickets can be purchased on our website.
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
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Supper With Burns – Scottish Storytelling Centre
Join in for an alternative Burns Supper in the beautiful setting of the Storytelling Court, serving up a delicious three-course Scottish dinner – with the centre piece Haggis – and a generous helping of Burns’ stories, song and lore.
Hosted by storytellers DavidCampbell and Ruth Kirkpatrick, with clarsach player Katie Harrigan. Also featuring Donald Smith‘s wonderful rendition of Tam O’Shanter. Book early to avoid disappointment.
The Scottish Storytelling Centre is a vibrant arts venue with a seasonal programme of live storytelling, theatre, music, exhibitions, workshops, family events and festivals.
The venue and its staff have a welcoming spirit, inclusive nature and talent and creative skill to boot.
What makes the Centre special is its unique approach to collaboration and the welcome it affords performers, customers and audiences.
The Centre's ethos is summed up nicely by the old Scottish proverb, “The story is told eye to eye, mind to mind and heart to heart”.
The event will be held on 24th and 25th January, 7pm - 9.30pm. Tickets are £25 and can be purchased online, by phone or in person.
Visit www.scottishstorytellingcentre.com to find out more or follow them on Facebook.
Call 0131 556 9579 or find them at Scottish Story Telling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR.
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A Question of Burns
Thursday 24th January 2019 – Glasgow Hilton
A Question of Burns is a Burns supper like no other. Featuring humorous twists, a quiz and an amazing line up of speakers including Andy Nicol (BBC Sports presenter and former Captain of the Scotland Rugby Team), Burns Reenactor Chris Tait, a Toast to the Lassies from George McNeil (sprint champion and former professional football player) and, welcoming for the first time, award winning speaker, actress and playwright, Isobel Rutter with her hilarious ‘Reply’. And, not forgetting an array of Scottish songs from Classical Singer and Soprano Nicola Cassells.
Since its launch in 1990 SBH Scotland’s annual event, in honour of the Ayrshire bard, has raised over £1 million for this Scotland-wide charity. The vital funds have been used to support thousands of families across Scotland affected by the lifelong, complex disabilities of spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus and related conditions.
Sponsored by luxury jeweller and diamond retailer Chisholm Hunter, A Question of Burns saw the number of guests attending this sparkling event soar to over 500 in 2018 and it’s anticipated to be one of the largest Burns Suppers taking place in Scotland in 2019, so early booking is advised.
Tickets include a sparkling drinks reception, four-course dinner and an unrivalled evening of entertainment.
Cost: £95 pp or £900 for a table of 10. Red, Red Rose Table Sponsor Package available.
Call: 03455 211 600, email: fundraising@sbhscotland.org.uk or book online at www.sbhscotland.org.uk/burns-tickets
Find out more about SBH Scotland at www.sbhscotland.org.uk or follow them on Facebook.
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Burns and Beyond
Burns Night is fast approaching and that means bagpipes, haggis, poetry and maybe a wee dram or two.
And, if you're a fan of Scotland's National Bard, the good news is the celebrations don't have to begin and end on January 25 this year.
A new six-day festival celebrating the life and work of Robert Burns takes place in Edinburgh this month, featuring top creative talents in some of the capital’s best-known buildings and a few of its more secretive spaces.
With dancing, music, theatre, comedy and family events all on the bill, Burns&Beyond is sure to offer something for everybody. Burns and Beyond will run from Monday 21st to Sunday 27th January.
To find out more, visit www.burnsandbeyond.com
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