Best Ways to Celebrate Burns Night

The birthday of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national Bard, is one that calls for a huge meal, entertainment and dancing galore.  There are loads of charity balls celebrating Burns Night around Scotland, so whether you want to support Scottish charities like CHILDREN 1ST or charities helping those less fortunate abroad like Cherish Watoto Kenya,
charity balls are fun with the feeling you’re doing something good too.  Here’s our pick of the top balls to celebrate the birth of the bard across Scotland. Get practicing your toast to the haggis now!

Best in Edinburgh
CHILDREN 1ST’s Burns Reloaded will take place on Saturday 23rd January at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange and will feature comedian Susan Morrison as MC, People’s Postcode Lottery presenter Angus Purden and Clann an Drumma and Robbie Shepherd’s Nightmare Ceilidh Band back to keep you entertained. Find out more here http://www.children1st.org.uk/events/65/burnsreloaded2010 or contact Rebecca Milne for tickets (£40) on rebecca.milne@children1st.org.uk
 
Best in Glasgow
The Scottish Spina Bifida Association hosts a four course meal and a full programme of entertainment on the 28th January in the Glasgow Hilton Hotel, raising over £100,000 for the charity as it does so.  An event so successful it’s been 15 years in the running, attendees are said to be from top Scottish construction, oil, property and law firms. The Glasgow event is regarded as one of the largest mixed Tickets are £75 per person.

Best in Aberdeen
Aberdeen’s Winter Festival holds their Burns Night Celidh Supper Dance on the 23rd of this month at the Beach Ballroom, with traditional ceilidh tunes and hearty Scottish fayre. Call 01224 647647 for ticket information and prices.

Best for Smaller Groups
Cherish Watoto Kenya is a charity recently set up to improve the lives of children living in the Kiberia slums, many of whom face the threats of disease, crime and political violence and have no family to support them. CWK aims to give them a way out by providing a safe place to live and the opportunity to start a formal education, and you too can help. By attending the CWK Burns Supper, you’ll not only be doing your bit for CWK but you’ll also enjoy good food, bubbly on arrival and the best of Scottish music for just £45 a person. Hosted on the 29th in St Paul’s & St George’s Church, York Place, Edinburgh, this black tie ball can be booked online at www.cwk.org.uk

Best for Opulence
A star-studded evening of traditional – and some not so traditional – Burns Night entertainment, with fine food, in Prestonfield’s spectacular setting. Benefitting Prostate Scotland, an evening of sparkling wit, wine and whisky with a delicious four-course dinner and exceptional entertainment in the spectacular setting of Prestonfield’s circular stables awaits you.

Welcomed by the rousing strains of Prestonfield’s Pipe Major, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cocktail followed by a delicious four-course dinner that includes the very best of Scotland’s larder, including traditional haggis and includes a half bottle of wine per person.  Tickets will set you back £60 and you’ll be entertained by comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli, Grant Stott and acclaimed actor and singer, Clare Grogan. Douglas Dyer will perform a memorable Tam O Shanter and the world-renowned Burns guru, Professor David Purdie, will give entertaining, inspirational and informative insights into the life, times and work of the Bard in his Immortal Memory.
To book call 0131-662 2305 or visit http://www.prestonfield.com/BurnsNightOffers.html

Do you know of a great Burns Night Supper going on in your area? Fill the rest of us in using the comments box below!