Seven ways to celebrate Burns Night from a traditional supper to virtual events

NOW that Christmas and the New Year are over, Scotland’s next festival focus is Burns Night on January 25 – the birthday of Scotland’s national Bard.

There’s no experience quite like a traditional Burns Night celebration.

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Visit Scotland has made 2022 Scotland’s Year of Stories and will spotlight, celebrate and promote the wealth of stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland.

Soak up some Scottish culture with some of the Bard’s best poetry, indulge in the traditional dish of haggis, neeps and tatties, natter over a warming dram of whisky and maybe even join in a Highland reel or two.

Whether toasting virtually at home or heading out to a local event, everyone can join in the celebrations this Burns Night, from anywhere in the world.

Here’s seven ways you can celebrate the birth of the Bard.

Tuck in to a traditional Burns Supper

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One of Edinburgh’s most iconic attractions, The Royal Yacht Britainnia, will be hosting its annual Burns Supper on board for two nights, January 28 and 29.

Guests will enjoy a five course meal that showcases the finest Scottish ingredients, Scottish music will be played and the traditional ‘Address to a Haggis’ will be followed with a whisky tasting in the State Drawing Room.

There will also be a drinks and canapé reception and a tour of The Royal Yacht Britannia. Tickets are priced at £215pp. See (Burns Supper|Official The Royal Yacht Britannia)

The Cairndale Hotel & Leisure Club in Dumfries plays host a traditional Burns Supper complete with music, poetry and dancing for a memorable evening of toe-tapping entertainment on January 29.

Featuring Claire Hastings, former BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year, as well as an array of performers, guests can celebrate the national poet’s birthday in song and style. Tickets are priced at £35, or 2 nights DBB for £149. See (Burns Night Cairndale Hotel)

On the day of the Bard’s birthday Barony Castle Hotel in Peebles will be hosting a Burns Night Dinner serving locally sourced Scottish dishes. A piper will accompany the haggis as it is paraded into the hall, followed by the ‘Address to a Haggis’.

A Ceilidh and live music from the Sultans of Fling will lead to a fantastic party atmosphere for all ages. Tickets are priced at £45pp. See (baronycastle.com)

Laugh along at top Scots stand ups

For something a little different, The Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow is celebrating Burns Night with an evening of top comedy featuring the best performers on the contemporary Scottish circuit, alongside traditional Scottish fayre on January 23.

Tickets are priced between £8 and £10pp. See (The Best of Scottish Comedy Burns Night Special – The Stand Comedy Club)

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Listen to the best poems and songs of the Bard

The Ghosting of Rabbie Burns will be staged live at the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling on January 25. Featuring the best poems and songs of the Bard including ‘My Love is Like a Red Red Rose, ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ and, of course, ‘Auld Land Syne’.

Guests can expect a hilarious comedy that proves love and relationships haven’t changed that much in 200 years after all! Tickets are priced from £19.50. See (The Ghosting of Rabbie Burns at Macrobert Arts Centre)

Dance the night away at a ceilidh

There will be a Burns Ceilidh Night at Beaufort Hotel in Inverness on January 22 with the BlackRock Ceilidh Band, featuring three vocalists, guitar, accordion, mandolin, small pipes, bagpipes, sax, bass and drums – a show that is sure to get you up on the dance floor!

Tickets are priced at £10pp. See (Burns Ceilidh Night with BlackRock Ceilidh Band Tickets | Beaufort Hotel Inverness)

Delve into Burns’ life and works

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Scotland’s former Makar Jackie Kay, the country’s National Poet from 2016-2021, takes to the stage of St Margaret’s in Braemar on January 23.

The ‘in conversation’ event, will be chaired by singer and broadcaster Fiona Kennedy, and will delve into the fascinating life and work of Burns. Tickets from £6 See (stmargaretsbraemar.org.uk)

Celebrate from the comfort of your sofa

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For those who can’t make it out to celebrate there are plenty of virtual events scheduled including Eddi Reader’s Big Burns Supper taking place online on 25 January 2022 at 7pm.

Eddi will be joined by KT Tunstall, Skerryvore and Tidelines, as well as other local talent spanning the full spectrum of music, comedy, poetry, performance, and prose, and is not to be missed.

Comedy circuit stars Ross Leslie and Richard Pulsford join the likes of Colonel Mustard & the Dijon 5, Sean Focus ‘Live’, Amy Papiransky, Dumfries Community Choir, David Bass & Chazz, The Lucky Doves and Jack Hunter, and Scottish TV presenter and of former captain of Glasgow Wheelchair basketball team Mark Dougan is even set to make an appearance.

The event will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube and is free. Sign up (here)

Burns Big Night In with National Trust for Scotland is on January 22 at 7.30pm and will be hosted by DJ and TV presenter Edith Bowman. Expect an electric night of music, song, poetry, whisky and heaps of Scottish banter streamed live from Burns Cottage at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayrshire.

There will be live music from folk singer Siobhan Miller, folk show Nae Plans and more, a whisky cocktail masterclass and exclusive insights into the life of Robert Burns.

Household tickets start at £18. Book tickets now at (Burns Big Night In) All profits go to the charity.

Edinburgh’s flagship Burns celebration Burns&Beyond returns for a fourth year on January 25, presenting a feast of online music, spoken word, food and whisky to help you celebrate the Bard in style. For more information and for full programme details, go to (burnsandbeyond.com)

Explore Scotland’s spectacular scenery

And don’t forget, you can experience the poems and songs that the spectacular Scottish landscapes inspired, explore real-life locations and uncover a wealth of stories connected to Rabbie Burns himself on a day trip or staycation in Scotland.

Find out more about Burns events see (visitscotland.com/burns) and for more information on holidays in Scotland see (visitscotland.com)

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