Big Burns Supper has won national recognition for its work to embrace and support the local community in Dumfries.
It was a highly-rated runner up for the Sarah Nulty Community Impact Award, announced at the UK Festival Awards 2024 in Bristol on Tuesday night, narrowly missing out to winner Test Fest in Somerset.
The award recognises festivals that go the extra mile to support their local communities through fundraising, awareness or providing opportunities.
Big Burns Supper, founded in 2012, is the UK’s largest winter fringe festival with more than 150 events including the biggest Burns Night celebration in the world. It features a heady mixture of cabaret, comedy, music and entertainment in more than 30 venues.
Graham Main, executive producer and founder of Big Burns Supper, said: “To make the final shortlist for the Sarah Nulty Award is a real achievement. We were up against some of the most innovative and impactful festivals in the UK.
“It’s always a boost when outsiders recognise your efforts but this does more than that. It underlines that we’re achieving what we set out to do.
“Big Burns Supper celebrates the life and work of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet, in a way that is accessible, relevant and involves everyone.
“Even before the festival begins, we run costume-making workshops. We provide a wide variety of volunteering opportunities and stage community singing, drumming and kids’ events as well as professional performances.
“Big Burns Supper is also the home of Dumfries Carnival, which is one of Scotland’s largest community events. There really is something for everyone.”
He added: “By putting local people front and centre of everything we do, we’re helping to boost community cohesion and combat isolation, loneliness and mental ill health. Burns would certainly have approved of that.”
The 2024 Big Burns Supper had to be cancelled because of funding issues but it returns with a vengeance in 2025, running from January 17 to February 2.
The climax is Burns Night Live, at Loreburn Hall on January 25, billed as the ‘biggest Burns Night celebration in the world’. Those attending can tuck into a traditional Burns supper of haggis, neeps and tatties but if you can’t make it in person the event is streamed live on YouTube and Facebook.
Since Big Burns Supper began in 2011, more than 10,000 young people across Dumfries & Galloway have taken part in the festival’s creative schools programmes, as well as 200 young people who have trained with the organisation in event management and producing.
View the full programme at: and book tickets at www.bigburnssupper.com
