Late summer is the season of festivals in Arran, and this year there is even more on offer… Read on to find out details of all the fantastic cultural events that are happening this month.
Festival of the Sea
11th August, Lamlash
The aim is to celebrate everything that the sea means for an island community: livelihood, leisure, ships, boats, swimming, nourishment, and even transport. It blends thanksgiving, awareness of the damage we have done to the sea and its ecology, our dependence upon our Good Mother Earth, and the acts of penitence and intercession. The ancient Gaelic heritage of our lands and islands came alive in the recitation of the prayers of Blessing handed down to us both orally and in Carmichael’s Carmina Gadelica, calling us to renew our ecological awareness along with our sense of wonder.
Arran International Festival of Chamber Music and Song
19th to 25th August 2024
Concerts by international, local and young musicians, alike, coming together to create a series of beautiful musical events across various Arran venues. Have a look at this great programme!
For more information and details on how to book, visit the Arran International Festival of Chamber Music and Song Facebook page or check out the website here
McLellan Arts Festival 2024
Friday 30th August to Wednesday 11th September 2024
For all the info on what’s on, dates and prices (lots of free / young people go free!) go to the Arran Theatre and Arts Trust website
For the full programme follow the link here and for tickets follow the link here
McLellan Book Festival and Wee Mac Arran 2024
Joining the longstanding McLellan Arts Festival this year, is the inaugural McLellan Book Festival. The programme will run over the weekend of Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September. See below for a brief line up of authors who will be speaking but check the McLellan Book Festival website here for more details.
Saturday 31st August:
4pm: Sally Magnusson, Music in the Dark
7pm: Alex Gray, Out of Darkness
Sunday 1st September:
4pm: Sara Sheridan, The Secrets of Blythswood Square, The Fair Botanists
7pm: Alistair Moffat, The Highlands & Islands of Scotland: A New History
Brodick Hall: £12 per event or McLellan Book Festival Weekend Pass – £40
Tickets are now available to buy from these island businesses – The Book and Card Centre, Arran Heritage Museum, The Wee Bookshop in Corrie, The Harbour Shop. You can also buy tickets online, with no booking fee www.ticketsource.co.uk/arran-theatre-and-arts-trust
Alongside the McLellan Book Festival, Wee Mac Arran 2024 will be taking place at the Isle of Arran Heritage Museum, Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September, 11am – 3.30pm
Wee Mac Arran is a children’s book festival organised by a local group of book-loving volunteers. Some of Scotland’s finest authors, illustrators and storytellers will be here to share their tales with Arran’s young people, as well as to visitors to the island.
Come and meet Mike Nicholson, Louise Baillie, Debi Gliori, Lindsay Littleson, Chae Strathie, Ceitidh Hutton, Greta Yorke and Ross MacKenzie. Also, Bonnie and the Team from Play Talk Read will be with there as well as Therapets, Scooter and Finn.
With something for book lovers of all ages, entry is free but spaces may be limited. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
For more details and the full festival programme see the website here
Arran Heritage Museum is the Wee Mac bookstore and have all the books ready for you and your wee ones if you want to read any before the festival – head on down and see their cracking display