From big, public events to more traditional Burns suppers, there are plenty of ways to remember the Bard.

It is 261 years since Robert Burns was born in South Ayrshire and the Burns and A' That festival in Ayr is making sure that no-one forgets the area's most famous son.

Their Burns Hame Toun strand includes a Burns on the Beach event this Friday (24th January) as well as a ceilidh and fire show at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway on Saturday 25th January.

Meanwhile, in Dumfries, the Big Burns Supper Festival runs for eleven days from the end of January.

The festival takes place in venues, bars, art galleries, museums and includes an 800 capacity Spiegeltent.

The line-up features shows and events for all the family, as well as light installations and music from performers such as Morcheeba, Turin Brakes, Hue and Cry, Keb Mo and Newton Faulkner.

Burns and Beyond

On the other side of the country, the Burns and Beyond festival in Edinburgh celebrates the fact that Burns Night and the Chinese New Year both fall on 25 January 2020.

From ceilidhs to comedy and from pop gigs to Chinese lanterns in St Giles Cathedral, there are seventeen different events taking place over the next few days.

Another option would be to saunter over to Rutland Place for the Ghillie Dhu Rabbie Burns Experience. Main pic is from Ghillie Dhu Facebook.

Running every night from Thursday 23rd to Sunday 26th January, the popular West End venue is laying on a Burns Night with a dram on arrival, dinner, live music and a ceilidh band.

Of course, the dinner includes haggis, a piper, a Burns reading and the traditional toast.

If you are based in Glasgow, it might be more convenient to book in for the Burns Supper at Oran Mor on Great Western Road.

Hosted by Iain Robertson and friends on Saturday 25th January, the event includes a welcome dram, three course Scottish menu and entertainment from the BAFTA award-winning Robertson and friends such as Dave Anderson.