Forget diets and new year’s resolutions: January is the month for firesides, fairytales, and the Bard. Here are a few heart-warming events to lift the spirits and see you through the first weeks of the fledgling year.
Huddle up this January with some heartwarming events
Head to Stirling Castle for a Celebration of Burns
Burnsfest at The Scottish Storytelling Centre: Just a cosy one-hour train ride from Stirling will transport you to the cobbled streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town, and the welcoming doors of the Scottish Storytelling Centre. To celebrate Burns Night, the centre is hosting an exciting and varied programme of readings, talks and suppers from 23 to 25 January. This popular ‘Burnsfest’ programme features a mix of family and adult activities with fun, contemporary takes on Burns stories, poems and songs including Lords of the Creation… And Other Beasts; a Burns Family event; Tam O’Shanter: Telling the Big Tale; and, on 25 January itself, Supper with Burns (an adult event). More information here.
Celebrating Burns: 23 and 24 Jan, 12 noon to 3pm at Stirling Castle Esplanade. Whatever you think of Burns, there’s no denying the man could tell a story fit for any warm hearth. But did you know that the poet who penned ‘Tam O’Shanter’ and ‘Holy Willie’s Prayer’ also had a connection with Stirling? In 1787 Burns visited Stirling Castle, and afterwards returned to his hotel where he wrote the ‘Stirling Lines’, etched into a glass windowpane. Your guide at Stirling Castle will explore this remarkable visit, and the effect it had on Burns the man. More details here. And if you want to know much more about the Stirling Lines, and see a replica of them, visit the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum.
The Guid Crack Club, Edinburgh: If you are up for a night-time foray in the name of story-telling, then take a train ride to Edinburgh Waverley on 29 January too, for the first Guid Crack of the year. You can warm your hearts round the ceilidh fire with tales to keep the cold at bay and perhaps a few nods to the great Bard himself. Lea Taylor will delight with Burns song and story with a mischievous twist! This event takes place upstairs at the Waverley Bar, and young adults are welcome if accompanied. More information here.
The Nutcracker: And here’s a winter’s tale to beat all others. If your kids (or you!) haven’t had enough of Christmas, why not escape again to a magical world of snow, sweets and the Sugar Plum Fairy with Ballet West’s production of the Nutcracker? It is the Christmas party in the Stahlbaum household and young Clara is given a beautiful Nutcracker doll. After everyone has gone to bed and the house is quiet she returns to play with her doll and discovers he can take her on magical adventures through the land of the Mouse King, dancing snowflakes and the wonderful land of sweets. A magical winter fairytale for children and adults alike, Fri 5 Feb, 7.30pm and Sat 6 Feb, 2pm & 7.30pm. Details and tickets from the Macrobert Arts Centre.
Ballet West will perform this classic tale of Christmas magic at the Macrobert Stirling
Photo credits: Stirling Castle by Night by Finlay McWalter: under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.