Festivals and Events in North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire is a beautiful area on the west coast of Scotland where a vibrant and extensive programme of events take place throughout the year.
From traditional and contemporary festivals to local gala days celebrated within our communities – there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The two main festivals within North Ayrshire celebrate the heritage and traditions of the area:
Marymass Festival, Irvine (16 to 27 August 2012)
The Marymass Festival in Irvine can be traced back over 1,000 years and takes place over 12 days in August each year. The Festival is steeped in local culture and retains many of its ancient traditions dating back to the 17th century. This, coupled with a modern twist, make it a must see festival for the whole family. Highlights include the Captain's Parade, Folk and Music Festival, Fireworks, Festival of Light Procession and around 100 different community events.
Join the carnival atmosphere on Marymass Saturday when one of the largest horse-drawn processions in Scotland leads the crowd to Irvine Town Centre to witness the Crowning of the Marymass Queen. The parade then makes its way to Irvine Moor, where a full afternoon of sporting events takes place, including what is reputed to be Scotland's oldest horse race meeting and legendary Greasy Pole competition – a quirky Marymass tradition which sees teams attempting to climb a 20ft pole coated in grease to retrieve the 'coveted ham'.
Largs Viking Festival
Celebrating the towns Viking Heritage and the Battle of Largs 1263, you will be enthralled by Viking skirmishes, battle re-enactments and explosive fireworks display. Learn about real life Vikings and how they lived in the authentic Viking Village. Visit the website www.largsvikingfestival.com for up to date information. Why not visit the excellent visitor attraction – Vikingar in Largs to find out even more. This annual festival takes place over nine days in September.
These are complemented by a number of events organised by our partner organisations: the Scottish Sailing Institute (SSI) , KA Leisure, Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and local community groups.
Local Events
For details on other local events, take a look at our Events List 2012 (PDF 20Kb)or visit our What's On page.
Planning an event?
If you are looking for a great location for your event, then North Ayrshire has the answer. It is easy to reach from any part of Central Scotland, easy to get around when you get here and its dramatic location on the Clyde Estuary is second to none. From beautiful beaches to attractive parks, open spaces and of course our islands of Arran and Cumbrae - the area has an abundance of locations to hold an event of any size or nature.
Who do I contact?
Event organisers considering staging an event in North Ayrshire should contact Communications who co-ordinate an inter-agency approach to support your event and to assist in it's success. Guidelines for commercial events and a preliminary application form are available here:
Support for Local Voluntary Organisations planning an event
Communications can also provide advice and support to community groups in planning their own local events. Sharing of information is channelled through the North Ayrshire Festival Forum (PDF 19Kb). If you wish to join the group, application forms are available:
Application form for Festival Forum (PDF 16.6Kb)
Application form for Festival Forum (Word 92Kb)
North Ayrshire Council administers a Community Grants Scheme for voluntary groups. It is also worth taking a look at our funding database which provides details of a variety of other sources of funding.
Other useful resources
Event Scotland, the national events agency for Scotland has a number of website resources that may be useful when planning events.