Recently updated on July 22nd, 2025 at 02:48 pm
Slip into something tartan and prepare for a hearty meal of haggis, because tonight is Burns Night! 25th of January is Burns Night – the anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns (1759 – 96), which isn’t just celebrated in Scotland but across the whole world. This year is even more special as 2011 is the 25th anniversary of Burns Night, so wherever you are in Scotland there is bound to be various events and celebrations going on near you such as traditional ceilidhs and delicious Burns Suppers. Here’s our pick of the top Burns Night events in some of Scotland’s most exciting cities.
Alloway
If you’d prefer to learn more about Robert Burns before you raise a glass, the Official Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is now open in Alloway, Ayrshire, and this is the place to head for extensive history and fascinating facts surrounding Robert Burns, such as manuscripts and personal artefacts, which helped make the man we cherish for poems such as, ‘To A Louse’, ‘Tam O Shanter’, ‘To A Haggis’ and ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
Aberdeen
Head to the University of Aberdeen for a special Burns evening, whereby Sheena Blacklaw and Derick McClure present ‘ The Ploughman Songmaker’, and all for just £3.
St. Andrews
Burns Night with Daimh takes place in St. Andrew’s Byre Theatre, and you can expect a traditional evening where much merriment will ensue. Tuck into some haggis, of which Robert Burns himself called the ‘great chieftain o’ the puddin’-race’.
Edinburgh
Burns: Rough Cut takes place tonight at Brunton Theatre where, for £11 you can expect a traditional supper of venison pie and scotch broth soup followed by a very ‘raw and edgy’ performance of Robert Burns’s diaries.
Raise your glass of Scotch whiskey to Robert Burns, and remember the Scottish bard with the poignancy and passion of a true Scot!
Read more about Scotland and search for Scottish tours
How are you celebrating Burns Night? Share with us below…
Image credits: eusebius and SteveWagner at Flickr.com