Scottish Maritime Museum & Irvine Harbourside Thursday 30th November – Sunday 3rd December Irvine’s historic waterfront will twinkle with lights on St Andrew’s Day this Thursday as the Scottish Maritime Museum’s award-winning four day Winter spectacular, illumination: Harbour Festival of Light, returns with a bigger and brighter programme of sparkling events and activities.
David Mann, Director of the Scottish Maritime Museum, says: “We’re sure everyone is going to be thrilled with this year’s twinkling illumination : Harbour Festival of Light. There’s so much to see and do and most events are free. “The brand new Steampunk themed illumination Light, Fire & Aerial Art Spectacular in particular promises to be this year’s hit and a truly un-missable part of the four day festival. “We’ve had a sneak preview watching Spinal Chord aerial acrobats practice over the last few days and their performance climbing chains hanging from the Linthouse girders, running up a wall and balancing on a slack rope is simply amazing! Everyone should buy their tickets now and be sure of catching this awesome show! “Another highlight of illumination :
Harbour Festival of Light is, of course, our celebrations around St Andrew’s Day. Visitors can mark our national day in style at illumination. As well as the Light, Fire and Aerial Art Spectacular, they can follow the twinkling Light Trail along the Habourside, discover some great goodies in the Food and Craft Fair, join the team from Murray McDavid for whisky tastings aboard their beautiful cutter boat and, of course, enjoy the St Andrew’s Day fireworks at 6.45pm.” Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for International Development and Europe, adds: “Our patron saint, St Andrew was known for being sociable and for encouraging people to share.
“Celebrating St Andrew’s Day presents the perfect opportunity for Scots to keep the spirit of St Andrew alive, by coming together and sharing in something special. “With spectacular aerial and light show and illumination Light Trail, illumination : Harbour Festival of Light is a fantastic way for the communities and visitors alike to share our rich Scottish culture while marking Scotland’s special day.” illumination has, once again, received support as part of the Scotland’s Winter Festivals events programme. The festival, which also celebrates the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, has also been made possible through support from North Ayrshire Council, BAE Systems, Caledonian MacBrayne, Booth Welsh and in-kind sponsorship from NPL Estates and Confida. FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS St Andrew’s Day opening illumination Firework Display Harbourside 6.45pm Thursday 30 November illumination Light, Fire & Aerial Art Spectacular Scottish Maritime Museum Ticketed, daily performances throughout the festival Jaw-dropping daring-do is promised as Spinal Chord aerial acrobats fly across the Scottish Maritime Museum’s vast Linthouse on rattling chains, slack ropes, cloud swings and a running wall in this year’s brand new, Steampunk-themed Light, Fire & Aerial Art Spectacular. In the Year of History, Heritage & Archaeology, the Scottish Maritime Museum cranks up a gear to celebrate Scotland’s shipbuilding and industrial heritage through aerial performance, live music, a fabulous light show and fire performance in the Linthouse and Courtyard. illumination Light Trail Harbourside and Museum Courtyard 4.00pm – 10.00pm, daily The illumination Light Trail will be a riot of sound and light this year with the world’s first Illumaphonium, a fabulous shimmering, music making interactive sculpture for all to enjoy. Other highlights of the illumination Light Trail, which will shine at the Scottish Maritime Museum, along Linthouse Vennel and across the Harbourside up to MV Kyles, will include the three metre high Maquettes of the world’s largest equine sculptures, Andy Scott’s shimmering steel Kelpies and a stunning, interactive light sculpture by light artists Squidsoup, On the Tide. Visitors will be able to interact with the 1,000 multi-coloured beads of On the Tide which will snake from the Harbourside onto the River Irvine via their phone or tablet. illumination Lantern Parade Harbourside 6pm on Saturday 2nd December This year the twinkling procession along the Harbourside will be led by a giant Loch Ness monster! The Parade which is organised in collaboration with Ayrshire Youth Arts Network is themed around Scottish folklore so visitors should expect lots of unicorns, Willow the Wisp faeries, dragon wings and, with a nod to the visiting Kelpie Maquettes, which will be part of the illumination Light Trail, lots of kelpie lanterns. illumiBike Harbourside, Opposite Harbour Arts Centre 5.30pm – 8.00pm Friday 1st December. Scotland’s scaringly talented cycle stunt team, The Clan, will shine a light on the fun and health benefits of getting on your bike. Visitors will thrill to a head-to-head competition between two of The Clan’s trials stars as they battle for supremacy completing challenges on towering platforms separated by huge gaps, ladders and skinny poles. Performances at 5.30pm and 7.30pm. North Ayrshire Council also invites everyone to join in and ‘Spin & Sparkle’ down to the illumiBike stand for a Best Dressed Bike and Cyclist Competition (adult and child categories), cycling give-aways, a free hot drink voucher and free Dr Bike checks for everyone bringing their bike. If you don’t have a bike with you, you can make sparks fly with a bike-powered smoothie maker! Murray McDavid Murray McDavid cutter boat, Harbourside near to MV Kyles Daily whisky tastings and evening events around the illumination fireworks on Thursday 30 November and Sunday 3 December. As well as a stand in the Food and Craft Market, whisky experts Murray McDavid will be giving whisky tastings aboard their 1960s cutter boat throughout the festival. Those looking for an extra special evening can also take in the opening or closing illumination : Harbour Festival of Light fireworks aboard with canapés, cocktails, the Murray McDavid range of inspired Scotch whiskies and music from whisky bard Robin Laing. For times and tickets for the Murray McDavid tastings and firework evenings, visit illuminationfestival.co.uk Food and Craft Fair Harbourside and Museum Open daily, 5.00pm – 10.00pm Thursday 30 November & Friday 1 December/12noon – 10.00pm Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December Please check www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org.uk for individual stand opening times. Tasty treats include Hairy Beast pies and Highland burgers from Cedar Cottage Country Goods, hot scallops and prawns to go from Pieroni Fish, clootie dumplings and sweets from Threepwood Fayre as well as Chipstix, Haggisman, pates from The Wee Deli and hand crafted real ales and beers from Sulwath Brewery. Those looking for some unusual, handmade goodies and gifts for Christmas will find Harry Potter wands and fairy doors from Debbie Ledde, silver handmade jewellery by Sarah Peterson, candles by Perfectly Taylor Made, calendars and prints from Valeries Photographs, treats at Jams and Scarfs as well as dog coats and pet accessories from Togz 4 Dogz. Skiff Racing From 11.00am Saturday 2 December Scottish Coastal Rowing Association members will bring their sparkling skiffs to illumination, racing them on Saturday afternoon then taking a gentler pace glittering on the water at night. Closing illumination Firework Display Harbourside 8.15pm Sunday 3 December FRINGE There’ll be sparklers and song at illumination as some fabulous outdoor singing performances twinkle into the Harbourside evening on both firework display evenings. The Harbourside will ring with the lilting sounds of traditional Scottish and Gaelic songs as Largs Gaelic Choir performs in front of the sparkling Kelpie Maquettes (beside Puffers Café) at 7.00pm/7.15pm just as the illumination St Andrew’s Day opening firework display comes to a close. The St Andrew’s Day firework display (Thursday 30 November) begins at 6.45pm. Visitors can also join Dreghorn Musical Society an Irvine and Dreghorn Brass Band opposite the Harbour Lights for open air Christmas carols at 7.00pm on Sunday 3 December. . The Shoes Brother of Irvine will also debut their cover of the gospel classic ‘This Little Light of Mine’ before the illumination closing firework display begins at 8.15pm.