The Burns Two Twenty Festival in Alloway will feature day and evening activities for Burns enthusiasts of all ages, including a range of free events and will begin on July 21, the anniversary of the first ever Burns supper.
The festival is run by the National Trust for Scotland, who care for the museum and cottage and other landmarks linked to the poet in Alloway, including the Auld Kirk, Burns Monument and iconic Brig o’ Doon.
The festival will include an exciting outdoor and craft programme, then the same smallholding area transformed in the evening for a Summer Supper, pub night with interactive games and a comedy evening with Des Clarke!
While Burns suppers are today observed on the poet’s birthday on January 25, the first ever supper was held on the 5th anniversary of his death on July 21 1801 by friends in the cottage where he was born and the festival will mark this anniversary.
Events Manager at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Lauren McKenzie, said: “We have been keen to put on an event at the cottage site, particularly since we weren’t really able to properly mark the completion of the new thatched roof last year due to Covid restrictions.
“This will be the first time that we have been able to really hold an event there and mark a significant anniversary, the 220th anniversary of the first Burns Supper.
“The festival begins on July 21 with the Summer Supper, held within a marquee in the smallholding on the site of the Cottage, where the first Burns supper took place. We will have a top table of speakers and the traditional recitals but not in quite as formal a delivery and format as your usual Burns night – we certainly hope it won’t be a dark, dreich night that we normally have in January!!
“The marquee will be situated in the smallholding and have open sides, so you will very much be in the land where the Burns family farmed. We are really able to bring in that view of the cottage and the whole surrounding landscape and take advantage of it.
“The marquee will also host the Burns Heid Inn night, which is a nod to the cottage’s long and interesting history. The cottage was an ale house for over 80 years and was visited by famous people including the poet, John Keats. On Friday July 23 we are hosting a pub night, supplying local craft beers by the Ayrshire Brewing Company who have produced themed beers based on Burns, his life and stories.”
Family events are an integral part of Two Twenty Festival with staff running a range of classes and activities which are completely free to attend. But, like all festival events, advance booking is essential.
“The festival will have something for everyone, and during the day we will have outdoor classes and activities, different craft sessions and things for people to do. Every day will be different, and you must book into these sessions which last for an hour and a half.
“This allows us to clean and sanitise between bookings and we will be running at a reduced capacity to ensure that social distancing is followed. The first session of each day will be a relaxed session with no background noise and further reduced capacity to cater to those with additional support needs.
“The whole festival is really exciting for us. Just to have that buzz around the site will be great. But pre-booking is essential. We need to prepare and monitor capacity and if you do come on the day there are no guarantees. You really need to book in advance.”
The Two Twenty Festival at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum comes in the midst of the National Trust for Scotland’s ongoing campaign, I love this place, which celebrates the personal connections people have with the properties and places the charity cares for as we emerge from lockdown. The campaign urges people to support the National Trust for Scotland and help protect the places we all love by becoming a member at www.nts.org.uk
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Glasgow, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Glasgow? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!On selected days throughout the year the team at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and volunteers hold a Highlight Talk exploring the life and works of Robert Burns!
READ MOREDon your furs, dust off your cane and get the crystal on ice when the UK's biggest R&B Brunch Daytimer comes to August House!
READ MOREThe Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust opens its Bridgeton Bus Garage to the public on selected Sundays throughout the year!
READ MOREEnjoy the sight of magnificent fire fighting machines of the past and present in all their glory at Riverside Museum's Fire Engine Rally!
READ MOREAn open day for anyone interested in LSC, music from previous campers as well as q and a with very special guests and a chance to chat with producers!
READ MOREJoin us on the 27th April for our next It's Never Too Late Event, this time round we are heading to Glasgow and The Poetry Club in SWG3.
READ MOREThe king of brunch, Stevie Lennon, continues his 2024 series of events at the Radisson Red on Saturday 27th April joined by the incredible Ace Tribe and Gav on Sax!
READ MOREScotland's LADHA is an exciting new festival which celebrates the richness and diversity of Scotland's African and Caribbean food and drinks scene!
READ MOREGoGreen, Scotland's first ever consumer sustainability show, headlined by Scotland’s Home of the Year television judge and interior designer Anna Campbell-Jones, comes to the SEC Glasgow in April!
READ MOREThe annual Glasgow Kiltwalk is being held on Sunday 28th April, with three separate walks of different lengths across the city!
READ MOREGo Radio | Number 1 for Glasgow & The West - Listen on DAB, Online or on your Smart Speaker, just say "Launch Go Radio"