What's On

Eventful times

Arran has an amazing community and whilst we have some big international events, we also want to invite our visitors to join in with local events too.

The two biggest, and longest established, events on the island both take place in August – Arran Farmers’ Show takes place the first Wednesday in August, and Brodick Highland Games takes place ‘the first Saturday after the Show’ (there’s a wee quirk for you!). Former Arranachs often flock back home that week as it’s a great way to catch up with old friends from days gone by.

However, if big events aren't your thing, there’s also lots of smaller community events – village coffee mornings, sales of work, concerts, ceilidhs. These are a great way to find out more about each village, and be sure and take time to listen to the local craic. While you're here pick up a copy of the local paper 'The Arran Banner' and check out the 'What's On' pages.

Arran’s creativity comes to the fore with plentiful arts festivals and events. Various music festivals (Arran Music Festival, Music Arran, Arran Folk Festival etc) take place throughout the year, whilst the McLellan Arts Festival takes place in September. Arran Open Studios have an open weekend in August when you can visit artists at work. Performing arts also include dramatic performances which take place in villages on an ad hoc basis, as well as the Arran Drama Festival each February.

Arran’s amazing natural environment is also the perfect playground for sporting events such as trail runs, ultra marathons, Arran Sportive, Rugby 7s and Cricket 6s!

Scroll down to see some of Arran's 2023 events or view a downloadable list of all this year's events here.

Some upcoming events for your diary

There’s always loads to do on your visit to Arran. Every week there are lots of local daily activities that will welcome visitors, as well as larger special one-off events and festivals.

We'll continue to update this page with more events happening over the coming year but here are a few events happening in 2023. 

What's On

Sunday Afternoon Mellow Music
The Pierhead Tavern

EVERY SUNDAY

Sunday afternoon mellow music in the bar or on the roof terrace. See full listings on our website or facebook page.

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Trev's Pop Music Quiz
The Ormidale

EVERY TUESDAY

Test your knowledge and/or guesswork in our fun, informal Pop quiz and compete for "sensational" prizes.

Quizmaster Trevor will be donning the golden jacket and asking the questions.

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Rock & Pop Bingo
The Ormidale

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Join Trev for a fun game (or two) of Rock & Pop Bingo! Listen to some great tracks and score them off on your bingo card for a striaght line or a full house! Great fun for all!

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General Knowledge Quiz
The Ormidale

EVERY THURSDAY

Join Tommy every Thursday at 9pm for his famous general knowledge quiz. The oldest established - and best - general quiz on Arran!

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Open Mic Session
The Pierhead Tavern in Lamlash

EVERY FRIDAY

We can provide the stage, the audience and instruments plus accompaniment if required. Come along & play or send us a message before to arrange a set.

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Live Music
The Pierhead Tavern

EVERY SATURDAY

Live music 9pm until midnight  at The Pierhead Tavern @ThePHTArran www.thepht.co.uk for full listings.

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Gaelic Landscape Walk - Imachar
Imachar Point 29 Sep 2023

10am-1.30pm A walk taking in Imachar’s many hidden sites of interest – caves, spectacular rocks, a burial ground, and of course beagan Gaelic history! Walk length 2.5 miles, duration 3.5 hrs. Tickets £15, book via Eventbrite.

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Coffee Morning - Kildonan
Kildonan Village Hall 29 Sep 2023

10am - 12pm Cake stall and tombola in support of MacMillan Cancer Support.

Coffee, Cake & Company
Calmac Brodick Ferry Terminal 29 Sep 2023

Coffee morning - from 10am until the cakes run out!

Chest and Stroke Scotland - Arran Cycle Challenge
Isle of Arran 30 Sep 2023

Take in the sights on one of Scotland’s most beautiful and accessible islands as you cycle 57 miles clockwise around Arran – you’d be hard pushed to ride a more perfect loop!

Whether you’re a cycling pro or you enjoy a scenic bike ride, this event is suitable for cyclists of all levels, we would just recommend a few weeks training to tackle some of the more challenging hills.

It’s not a race so we encourage you to have fun, take photos of the scenery and enjoy the ride – there will be plenty of stops for snacks and photos along the way.

So, if you have a sense of adventure, join team CHSS for a fantastic day of cycling on Arran, all while raising vital funds to help make sure people with chest, heart and stroke conditions get the support they need to live life to the full!

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Ross Ainslie + Ali Hutton Trio
Corrie Village Hall 13 Oct 2023
The first in our series of events at Corrie + Sannox Village Hall will kick off on 13th October at 8pm with the unbelievable Ross Ainslie + Ali Hutton Trio ‘Skilful acoustic instrumental playing is elaborated and developed into bold, funky, adventurous arrangements that sometimes transform into full on Folk Rock, like Treacherous Orchestra on Acid.’ – fRoots
'Best Duo' - Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017. 
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Saltwater Gallery Winter Show
Saltwater Gallery, Cladach 17 Oct 2023

17th October - 11th November

Themed Winter Show, inspired by the novel Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. 'Meet the Artist' on 17th October!

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"BE" Saltwater Gallery Exhibition
Saltwater Gallery 17 Oct 2023

17th OCT - 11th NOV

An exhibition of new work inspired by Richard Bach's classic 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' truth dream love spirit inspire awareness experience challenge joy believe improve transcend passion happiness discover meaning individuality 

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STROUD ZHANG DUO VIOLIN & PIANO
Arran High School 21 Oct 2023

7:30PM, Arran High School, £12 per ticket and free for under 18's.

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Straw Weaving & Plaiting with Julia Bovee
Ranger Centre, Brodick Castle 21 Oct 2023

You will learn how to select and prepare straws, how to tie them, and a selection of weaving & plaiting techniques. By the end of the day you should have several small pieces of decorative straw work to take home, helping to keep this endangered and beautiful craft alive. No previous experience required.

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Horizons - Isle of Arran Music School Pipe Band
Arran High School 28 Oct 2023

7pm Pipe band concert by Isle of Arran Music School.

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Horror Hospital at Brodick Castle
Brodick Castle 28 Oct 2023

Get ready to experience a bone-chilling night at Horror Hospital, where your worst nightmares come to life! Visiting times 7-9pm.

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Shop Arran
Island-wide 17 Nov 2023

17th-19th November

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THE TIM KLIPHUIS TRIO
Venue TBC 25 Nov 2023

7:30PM, Venue TBC , £12 per ticket and free for under 18's.

The trio are touring the world with their genre-defying brand of high-energy gypsy jazz and classical mash-ups to perform in Memory of Django on Arran. This programme with pieces by Django and his musicla partner Stephane Grappeli brings a smile to all faces and gets toes tapping.

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Bas Relief in Clay for House or Garden with Tim Pomeroy
Ranger Centre, Brodick Castle 02 Dec 2023

2nd-3rd December - This 2-day workshop will be an introduction to low-relief (bas-relief) sculpture in ceramic, terracotta or stoneware. What is produced over the two days will be fired ready for mounting in the garden or on a wall. The workshop will cover the rudiments of achieving a sense of depth in a clay panel using strong lights and modelling tools. Anything you can portray in drawing or painting can be portrayed in bas-relief - think drawing with clay!

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Christmas Market
Whiting Bay Hall 02 Dec 2023

More details to follow.

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Arran Farmers Market @ Bellevue Farm
Bellevue Farm, Blackwaterfoot 03 Dec 2023

The Farmer’s Market at Bellevue Farm is a chance for the Island’s local producers to come together, a place where people can see (and shop) all the fresh produce that Arran has to offer.

It’s part of our farm to fork proposition; by shopping locally you not only help the planet by minimising transport costs, but you can eat fresh food and know exactly where it has come from. You’ll also find stalls with locally produced home made goods and handcrafts.

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