Local Events in East Ayrshire

Homecoming Scotland 2009 will involve a programme of exciting and inspirational events and activities across Ayrshire. We are inviting you to celebrate with us in Burns Country. 

Whether you live in Scotland or part of the global family of Scots, come and join in the celebrations in 2009!

East Ayrshire will be hosting a series of fantastic events and activities during 2009 some of which will be entered on this page as they are confirmed.

January

Burns 'Soul' Night: Sat 24th Jan, doors 7.30pm, at Darvel Town Hall, 10-12 Main Street, Darvel, KA17 0DA. Tel: 01560 322437. Tickets £10. Darvel Music Company presents Live music from Counselled Out, The Tracks, Andrew Merry, and The Soul Shaker. Click here for details and tickets.

Burns Birthday: Sun 25th Jan, 12-4pm, at The Burns House Museum, Mauchline. FREE event to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns birth, with poetry music and sotrytelling. Click here for details. 

February

Creative Burns Exhibition: 14th Feb - 16th May at The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock. Discover the creative role of Burns as a writer, poet and performer and his legacy to contemporary artists, composers and designers. For full details see opposite.

March 

Creative Burns Exhibition: 14th Feb - 16th May at The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock - for details see opposite.

Mauchline Plough Match: Sun 29th March at Mossgiel Farm, Mauchline - for details see opposite.

April

Woodroad Fun Day: Sat 11th April, 12-5pm, at Woodroad Park, Auchinleck Road, Cumnock. FREE event. Whippet up at the Woodroad Park with whippet racing, inflatables, shows, stall, animal park and much more.

A Touch of Scotch & Welsh!: Sat 11th April, starts 6.30pm, at Dalmellington Community Centre, 37 Ayr Road, Dalmellington, KA6 7SJ. Tickets £4.00; Concessions £2.50 on the door. Joint Brass Band Concert with Dalmellington Band from Scotland and RAF St Athan Voluntary Band from Wales.  

Darvel Music Festival 'Fringe' Concerts: 17th - 18th April at Darvel Town Hall, 10-12 Main Street, Darvel, KA17 0DA. Tel: 01560 322437. Tickets £5 - £7. Darvel Music Company presents two nights of live music. Click here for details and tickets.

Creative Burns Exhibition: 14th Feb - 16th May at The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock - for details see opposite.

May

Darvel 'Homecoming' Music Festival: 1st - 10th May at Darvel Town Hall, 10-12 Main Street, Darvel, KA17 0DA. Tel: 01560 322437. Tickets £15.00 - £20.00. Darvel Music Company presents seven eclectic concerts by top international and national performers including Eddi Reader and Martin Taylor. Click here for details and tickets.

Creative Burns Exhibition: 14th Feb - 16th May at The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock - for details see opposite.

Burns an' a' That Festival: 16th -24th May at various locations across Ayrshire - for details see opposite.

Mauchline Holy Fair: Sat 23rd May at Mauchline - for details see opposite.

Ayrshire Innovators Exhibition: 30th May - 12th Sept at The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock. Discover the stories and legacies of Ayrshire's key innovators including Robert Burns, Sir Alexander Fleming, William Murdoch, James Keir Hardie, Bill Shankly, Sir Tom Hunter, and John Loudon Macadam. For full details see opposite. 

Andrew Fisher & Andrew Law Display: Dates TBC at Crosshouse Community Centre, Playingfield Road, Crosshouse, KA2 0JJ. FREE event/display celebrating two of the town's most prominent sons -Andrew Fisher (Former Prime Minister of Australia) and Andrew Law (Painter).

June

Ayrshire Innovators Exhibition: 30th May - 12th Sept at The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock - for details see opposite.

John Lapraik Festival: 5th - 7th June at Muirkirk. Community Festival incorporating poetry, music and historic walk to celebrate amateur poet John Lapraik, a close friend of Robert Burns. Click here for further details.

Fenwick Gala Day: Sat 13th June, from 12.30pm, at King George V Playing Field, Fenwick. FREE event. Family orientated annual event, themed for 'Homecoming' in 2009, including pipe band, Gala Queen and Squire, stalls, rides, amusements, five-a-side football, and much more. 

Muirkirk Walking Festival: 13th - 14th June at Muirkirk. Enjoy a variety of walks through beautiful Ayrshire countryside, and learn about the history of the covenanters. Click here for further details.

 July

Ayrshire Innovators Exhibition: 30th May - 12th Sept at The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock - for details see opposite.

Mauchline Homecoming Marquee Events: 24th - 26th July at Mauchline - for details see opposite.

August

Ayrshire Innovators Exhibition: 30th May - 12th Sept at The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock - for details see opposite.

Taste of the Tattoo: Exclusive FREE performance of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. 20th Aug at Dumfries House, Cumnock - for details see opposite. Tickets available from 10am on 16th July. Telephone: 01563 554900.

Cumnock Highland Games Tattoo: 22nd August, from 7pm at Cumnock. Enjoy the Cumnock Highland Games first ever Tattoo. Click here for further details. 
Cumnock Highland Games: 23rd August at Cumnock. Enjoy the Cumnock Highland Games, with highland dancing, pipers, heavies competition, stalls and much more. Click here for further details. 

September

Ayrshire Innovators Exhibition: 30th May - 12th Sept at The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock - for details see opposite.

October

Family History Open Day: Date TBC, in Kilmarnock. FREE event organised by East Ayrshire Family History Society, with stalls and information about how to start family history research and access resources in Ayrshire.

November

Kilmarnock's Tartan Tidings Festival: 28th and 29th November, in Kilmarnock town centre. FREE event featuring Trashcan Sinatras, Donnie Munro Band, Peatbog Faeries, 'Largest bowl of porridge' world record attempt, and much much more. Click here for further details.

December