The Sunny Burns Bash commemorated the first-ever Burns supper, held by the poet’s friends on 21 July, five years after his death. This event was part of our Burns Barns and Byres project, supported by Museums Galleries Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, and People’s Postcode Lottery, with additional support from The Holywood Trust and the Scottish Book Trust.
We were delighted to welcome almost 200 visitors, nearly all families with children, despite the uncertain weather. It was heart-warming to see so many people coming together to celebrate the legacy of Robert Burns and enjoy the activities we had planned.
First, a huge thank you to Rose Byers, Gregor Grierson, Dave McFadzean, and Kris Haddow for their beautiful performances in the barn and courtyard. Their talents added a magical atmosphere to the day.
We were also thrilled to have the Dumfries Historical Dance Group with us, demonstrating the 18th-century dances that Robert Burns and Jean Armour would have enjoyed. Their performances transported us back in time and were a highlight of the event.
Special thanks to Hugh McClymont and his colleagues from The Royal Highland Education Trust. Their fantastic education and activity caravan, featuring badge-making and other interactive activities, was a hit with visitors of all ages.
A big shout-out to Kaleidoscope Faces by Imogen for providing face-painting, which was hugely popular among the children. We are especially grateful to Imogen for her generous donation.
Inside the historic Burns house, children were entranced by Tony Bonning, our talented storyteller. His captivating tales brought the history and legacy of Burns to life in a way that was both educational and entertaining.
Outside in the barns and yard, children enjoyed creating Burns-themed dolls with our education volunteer, Anna Kane, and had a blast playing traditional games. These activities were a wonderful way to engage young minds with the cultural heritage of Burns.
Thank you once again to everyone who made this day so special. We look forward to welcoming you back to our museum for future events and continuing to share the rich heritage of Burns with our community.
Stay tuned for more exciting events and updates from our charity museum! We always have a spook-tacular event in October.