Burns Night is a celebration of the Scottish poet Robert Burns that takes place annually on January 25th. Familiarly known as ‘Rabbie’, his iconic status in Scotland is such that he’s often referred to as Scotland’s Bard (in reference to England’s William Shakespeare).

Given Burns’ reputation as a Scottish literary powerhouse, it’s hardly surprising that people all over the world mark Burns Night with a dinner in his honour. And, as every attendee knows, this should be regularly punctuated with a few hearty cries of “Slàinte Mhath!” – a toast to good health in Scots Gaelic – alongside a raised dram of whisky.

Intrigued? Read on for 20 tips and tricks to guarantee the success of your Burns Night event.

What is Burns Night?

If you want to learn how to organise Burns Night properly, getting to know the man behind the legend is a good place to start. In 1759, the man now widely regarded as Scotland’s national poet was born Robert Burness in south Ayrshire. The son of a self-educated tenant farmer, young Rabbie started writing lyrics and poetry as a precocious teenager. Although he only lived to 37 years old, his works live on – most notably in his now-traditional New Year’s Eve (or Hogmanay) song ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

Burns Night is a customary way for people (with or without Scottish roots) to show appreciation for Burns’ work and Scottish culture. Every year, the event is marked across the UK and further afield by those who cherish the traditional supper.

Celebratory Burns Night event ideas

Thinking of organising your own Burns Night event? We’ve put together some ideas to set your event apart and engage your attendees. Go on, have a wee keek!

1. Get out the whisky drams

Host a special Burns Night event at your venue with an exploration of Scotch whisky. Combining a traditional haggis dinner with a blind tasting – or a specific pairing for each part of the meal – will make for an entertaining night.

Manchester’s Northern Wine School offers an excellent Burns Night menu alongside their blind whisky tasting event.

2. Serve haggis at a traditional Burns Night supper

A Burns Night dinner with traditional speeches and food is a popular way to mark the occasion. The event follows a standard order, beginning with traditional Scottish music (ideally played by a bagpiper) and progressing through speeches and toasts until the end of the meal, at which points guests sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

3. Create your own traditions

Haggis, neeps, and tatties are standard fare, but why not switch out offal meat for a vegan alternative? For the uninitiated, start the haggis ceremony by blindfolding guests to draw them into the evening’s pageantry.

4. Arrange a Cèilidh performance

In Gaelic folk tradition, a Cèilidh is an evening of traditional singing, dancing, and storytelling. A Cèilidh band specialises in performing the folk music that underpins the evening. Whether or not you make the Cèilidh the focal point of your event, booking a band to play enhances the atmosphere of any Burns Night celebration.

5. Organise a historical Gaelic dance

Gaelic dance isn’t always associated with Burns Night. But given that Burns wrote both lyrics and poetry, showcase historical Scottish dancing at your celebration. Why not combine a night of traditional Gaelic music and 18th-century fancy dress, along with an opportunity to learn traditional dances?

6. Host a reel or an informal ‘barn dance’

Contemporary Highland dancers largely favour reeling above any other style. With eleven core dances of standard steps, Scottish reeling combines a clear structure and a strict dress code (kilts are critical!) with loud fun. You’ll need an instructor, among other key components, to organise a successful dance night.

7. Summon Scotland’s scary side with a ghost tour

From both folklore and Burns’ poetry, there’s a wealth of spooky material and Scottish ghost tales to dig up. Tap into the legends of Macbeth, the Pink Lady of Stirling Castle, and more with a ghost hunt, walk, or tour.

8. Theatrical or interactive performances

Take Burns Night beyond the dinner and into the realms of theatre. These events can focus on a play, but for an alternative spin, look at London Kilt Run‘s offering. Great craic!

9. Host an art exhibition

Burns celebrated the beauty of Scotland, its people, and culture through the written word. But how about including other art forms? Recently, Public Engagement at the University of Glasgow used VR and live installation pieces to bring Burns’ work to life. Consider showcasing Scottish artists or the Scottish countryside to immerse guests in the experience.

10. Plan a bagpipe workshop

No celebration of Scotland is complete without a bagpiper playing ‘Flower of Scotland’. Classes for potential pipers are in high demand around Burns Night, so plan your workshop well in advance.

11. Get them laughing with a comedy night

One for the gallus! Bring legendary Scots humour to your event with a night for comedians with Scottish heritage. A celebration of the Scottish identity wouldn’t be complete without witty put-downs of the Sassenachs – just keep them light-hearted!

Read our dedicated post for handy tips for organising a comedy night.

Virtual Burns Night event ideas

A virtual Burns Night event might not include all the traditional components of a dinner, but moving away from the typical format opens up various options for creative hosts.

Here are a few online Burns Night ideas for inspiration:

1. Robert Burns history talk

Burns lived a fascinating life – from growing up as the son of a poor farmer to studying with the Freemasons and being offered work in Jamaica. A history talk allows virtual attendees to learn more about his life and work.

2. Burns/Scotland history and culture quiz

Virtual quiz nights are here to stay, and a quiz for Scottish culture enthusiasts couldn’t come at a better time. Unite those with and without Gaelic roots, and test their knowledge of Scottish folklore.

3. Dance demonstrations

Online dance demonstrations bring people together from all over the world. Organisers The Nest Collective recently hosted a dance-along event for Cèilidh dancers that sent the tam o’shanters flying!

4. Haggis cookery classes

A virtual format can work better than an in-person setting because of the dish’s complexity. This traditional Scottish meal is usually ready-made, but a class teaching online attendees to make it themselves will bring in the gourmands.

5. Burns Night In

Your big Burns Night In could involve a compere, comedy, skits, and DJ set. Arrange poetry readings from around the world, or offer step-by-step reeling dance instruction. Lots of options mean guests can pick and choose!

Burns Night fundraising event ideas

Burns Night is an opportunity to be charitable. A month after the excesses of Christmas, fundraising events are getting back into full swing, so read on for Burns Night ideas with a charitable twist.

1. Poetry readings

This is a relatively straightforward fundraising idea for Burns Night. Invite well-known poets to conduct readings of Burns’ best works. When approaching poets, explain upfront that their performances should focus primarily (or exclusively) on Burns’ work. They may be more willing to participate if you offer them a chance to showcase their work. Offer that exchange instead of a higher payment to keep costs down at your event.

2. Big Burns Bash

Variety shows and fundraising events go hand-in-hand. Keep guests enthralled by throwing a Big Burns Bash with a range of performances. Think drag acts, singing, dancing, and more – and how about an audience participation version of ‘Address to a Haggis’ to get everyone involved?

3. Beyond Burns Night

Most people know the classic poems performed at Burns Night. But what about those not usually aired during dinner? It’s bold to bring up rodents at supper, but ‘To a Mouse’ is one of Burns’ best-loved works. The chance to learn about it and hear the poet’s early work or songs will draw in an academic crowd.

4. Haute-cuisine haggis supper

Some believe the humble haggis needs no improvement, but an haute-cuisine supper reimagines it with a fine-dining twist. Ask a renowned chef to serve up variations at a sophisticated restaurant – think haggis arancini or scotch eggs.

How to organise a Burns Night event

Now you’ve got your Burns Night theme ideas sorted, start ticking off your event planning checklist. Here are the most important things you’ll need to prepare in advance:

1. Make sure your venue fits the theme

Keep Scottish identity at the forefront when choosing a venue. Bars, pubs, or restaurants with existing national or cultural themes wouldn’t be appropriate. On a practical level, your venue must be able to accommodate whatever activities you’ve organised. A catered event, for example, will need kitchen facilities.

2. Create a catering event plan to suit the number of guests

Most Burns Night events will have food and drink on offer: drams of whisky, a haggis to be addressed, or both. Having the right amount of supplies to cater to your guests is essential. If you’re worried about catering costs spiralling out of control, check out these ideas for budget catering events.

3. Book your entertainment

Bagpipers, haggis chefs, Cèilidh bands, and Scottish dance instructors will get booked quickly, so act first to secure your first choice. Given the high competition to book popular performers, put together a list of backup options.

4. Use a digital ticketing service to reduce admin

Taking the stress out of ticketing frees up time to focus on preparations and marketing. Consider using a digital ticketing service to cut down on admin and keep things running smoothly in the build-up to the big day.

Prepare your own Burns Night event

You’ve got the ideas, so now it’s time to plan a successful Burns Night event. Once you’re ready to launch, post your event on Eventbrite to spread the word and start inviting guests.