Marymass Festival & Irvine Carter's Society
Thursday 16th - Monday 27th August 2012
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The Marymass Festival Irvine From fireworks to folk music, crowning to comedy, racing to rock music and horses to history - Irvine, Ayrshire is the place to be every August for the annual Marymass Festival.
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Thousands of locals and visitors packed the streets of Irvine at this year's Marymass Festival.
Throughout the twelve days, celebrating tradition and heritage – people from all walks of life took part in a whole variety of events.
The main event - Marymass Saturday was fantastic with celebrations starting early as the colourful parade – one of Scotland's largest horse-drawn processions – made its way through the town.
Both the parade – featuring local community groups, bands, dancers and businesses – and the happy crowds made their way to the heart of Marymass Saturday at Irvine Moor where they enjoyed the traditional races, fairground and entertainment, not to mention the famous Greasy Pole.
The 2012 Marymass Festival takes place from 16 to 27 August. Why not bookmark this page for more details, as and when they happen?
Come and join us next August and celebrate tradition.
About Marymass Festival
The Festival is steeped in local history and retains many of its ancient traditions dating back to the 17th century. Marymass has its origins with the worship of Mary, mother of Jesus. Irvine’s church was dedicated to her and the town’s main annual fair was celebrated on the 15th August, the day of her assumption.
Today, the Irvine Carters’ Society, one of the last remaining Carters organisation in Scotland, are committed to keeping these traditions alive. This is in part due to the legend that they rode from the town to fight for Mary Queen of Scots at the Battle of Langside in 1568.
This, coupled with a modern twist, makes it a must see festival for the whole family..
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In 2011 Irvine’s biggest and best community festival boasted an exciting new centrepiece - the Festival Hub @ Harbour Arts Centre (hac) on the picturesque Irvine Harbourside. Hosting an exciting range of live entertainment to suit all tastes - and with its own café/bar - the hac is the perfect place to celebrate Marymass in style. |
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On the Festival Opening Weekend, there was comedy at Side Splitters Comedy Club, chilling out with the New Orleans Joymakers and one of the most exciting, addictive and original Club Americana bands - the Hot Seats. And that was just for starters! The HAC is a popular visitor attraction in its own right and is open all year round. To find out more about the hac, telephone 01294 274059 or visit harbourartscentre |
Come and join us this August and Celebrate tradition…. |
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MARYMASS QUEENS
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There have been lots of Marymass Queens over the years. Click on the image on the left to see the full list of Queens from 1928 - 2010 |
Marymass Folk Festival
| marymass folk festival | |
| Various Venues Throughout Irvine | |
Marymass Folk Festival is part of the town's annual Marymass Celebrations. It was set up in 1968 by members of Irvine Folk Club. The Folk Festival became very popular very quickly not just locally but nationally and was in many ways a forerunner of the many other folk festivals which followed throughout Scotland. The festival is rooted in the community and was set up to bring top artists to Irvine.
For more details contact Joyce Hodge Email – joyceIFC@aol.com |
Telephone: 01294 324137
Fax: 01294 324154
Email: events@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
Why not explore the What's On! Ayrshire website?
Planning a visit?
Irvine boasts a beautiful sandy beach that runs for miles along the idyllic south west coast of Scotland and is within easy reach of the central belt.
There are excellent rail links – both from Glasgow Central Station and from Glasgow Prestwick International Airport to Irvine. Visit www.travelinescotland.com for details on all public transport.
The town is also easily reached by car from Glasgow (30 mins) and Glasgow Prestwick International Airport (20 mins).
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