Opportunity For Schools To Get Involved With Region’s Biggest Winter Parade

Organisers of the Big Burns Supper are looking for primary schools across Dumfries & Galloway to take part in Dumfries Carnival project.

The six-month creative learning project which kicks off in August, offers 20 Primary schools the opportunity to take part in performing arts workshops delivered by industry professional in theatre and dance.

A programme of workshops in theatre and dance will be delivered free of charge to all participating schools over the six-month project by a team of 6 specialists who will travel throughout the region creating the Carnival community in all corners of Dumfries & Galloway.

Each school group will eventually take part in the Parade which is scheduled to run on the 17th of January at 5pm.

Participating schools are ideally aged P5-P7, or whole through years if it is a smaller rural school.

More than 1000 costumes have already been made by volunteers which were designed by artists from St. Patricks Day Parade in Dublin.

Justin Hyslop, Creative Director of Dumfries Carnival said:

“Our Carnival project is one of our biggest community projects in Scotland, and the 2025 edition will be special for many reasons, not least because it will have been five years since the festival was staged at that scale.

We love getting out there and working pupils, teachers, and the school communities in the run up to the festival, it is what makes Big Burns Supper so unique.”

Schools are asked to register their interest at https://bigburnssupper.com/carnival-25-expression-of-interest/

Anyone with any questions should contact Justin Hyslop by emailing programming@ bigburnssupper.com

Big Burns Supper is set to return across three weekends running from the 17th of January to the 2nd of February 2025, following a fallow year to allow organisers the chance to find more resource to deliver the project.

As well as schools taking part, Big Burns Supper volunteers meet every Tuesday between 10am – 12pm at Morrisons, and 5pm – 7pm at St. Georges Church Hall. Anyone can take part.