Fresh Ayr Folk Fest is set to bring world-class music, dancing, food and a whole lot of fun to Ayrshire between 11-13 August.
Held in Rozelle Park, the event will be the first ever weekend outdoor folk festival to be held in the town. We can’t believe it’s taken this long!
Here’s five reasons why Ayr is the perfect setting for a summer folk festival…
1. It’s so pretty!
Sitting on the beautiful south west coastline of Scotland, Ayr is among a group of popular seaside towns. With an award winning beach of golden sand, family friendly attractions and plenty of interesting architecture, it’s easy to see why people love it here.
Ayr also has an impressive array of parks, including the stunning Rozelle Estate, which is, of course, the home of Fresh Ayr. Rich in greenery, and with trees creating a natural amphitheatre for music, it’s hard to imagine a better setting for a Scottish folk festival!
2. It’s easy to access
Travelling to and from Ayr couldn’t be easier, with excellent road and rail links connecting the town with the rest of Scotland. Prestwick Airport is also just a 15 minute drive away from the town for those venturing from further afield.
Fresh Ayr organisers will also operate hourly shuttle buses running from Ayr town centre to Rozelle Park across the weekend, to ensure everyone’s journey to and from the event is as safe and stress-free as possible.
3. It will bring trad music to the Central Belt this summer
It may be hard to believe, but Ayr has never before hosted a weekend-long outdoor folk festival. Fresh Ayr is rightfully filling this gap! Bringing world-class music to the Central Belt and to the south west of Scotland, the festival will be a fantastic, long-awaited addition to the summer calendar for residents and artists alike.
4. It’s rich in Scottish Culture
Ayrshire is home to an array of historical buildings and castles, and the region is rich in Scottish heritage and culture. Scotland’s most celebrated poet, Robert Burns, was born in Alloway, just a five minute drive away from the town centre. Many of his poems were inspired by Ayr’s countryside, rivers and bridges, including Brigs of Ayr, so the region is well-versed in celebrating Scottish cultural connections. Fresh Ayr will add to this, with plenty of traditional music, dancing and food across the weekend!
5. It has a brilliant community spirit
Ayrshire is renowned for its warm and welcoming community spirit, with residents showing keen interest in their local surroundings and events. We’ll be showcasing the region’s brilliant food suppliers across the weekend, as well as amazing children’s entertainers and of course local musical talent!
We are also proud to be partnering with the amazing Ayrshire Hospice for Fresh Ayr Folk Fest. The hospice’s friendly volunteers will be on site throughout the weekend to assist visitors and will be running a festival face painting stall, where people of all ages can get festival-ready in exchange for a donation.
