Following the success of last year’s inaugural festival, which celebrates the life and works of Rabbie Burns, Red, Red Rose Street returns for 2018 delivering an even bigger and better programme again focused around Edinburgh’s historic Rose Street.

Running from Thursday 25 – Saturday 27 January and supported by Scotland’s Winter Festivals, the celebrations will include a modern-day Burns Supper, as well as two family ceilidhs, Burns Club comedy nights, Captivate Theatre’s musical of the life of ‘Rabbie’, free Burns Workshops and animations and activities along the street over the three day festival.

On Burns Night itself (25 January), Red, Red Rose Street will welcome individuals and groups to a fun and friendly Burns Supper (18+), celebrating the political, cultural, radical and romantic sides of the poet. Hosted by Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for International Development and Europe, in the magnificent surroundings of Freemasons Hall on George Street, guests will be able to enjoy and honour the national Bard together through toasts, songs and recitals, including the traditional piping in and toast to the haggis, along with surprise performances throughout the evening. A traditional 3-course ‘supper’ of delicious local and Scottish produce will be created by the award-winning Wild Dining.

Burns Supper guests will also get the chance to take part in a worldwide celebration of the internationally famous poet by raising a toast and saying #CheerstoRabbie. The global virtual toast encourages everyone who loves the works of Burns to raise a glass and post an image of how they will be celebrating the much-loved poet on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Throughout January, an international celebration will take place as images are shared on social media from every corner of the world using #CheerstoRabbie. From the 18 January, the images will be brought together on the About Scotland website to show Burns fans toasting the poet from every corner of the globe.

Meanwhile, back at the Red, Red Rose Street Burns Supper, Josh Littlejohn of Social Bite will give the Immortal Memory address, diners will enjoy musical performances including students at The City of Edinburgh Music School and in keeping with the Bard’s humanitarian values a donation from every ticket will be made to Social Bite’s campaign to end homelessness in Scotland.

Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for International Development and Europe, said:

“After a successful first year, it’s apparent that Red, Red Rose Street is one of the best events in Scotland at which to celebrate Scotland’s most famous poet.

“Burns Night is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s most well-known and best loved national days, celebrated by millions around the world. Every year on January 25th, the day of his birth, Scots, and Scots at heart remember the life and cultural legacy of Burns by hosting a Burns Supper, and the Red, Red Rose Street promises to be a great one.

“The #CheerstoRabbie campaign will also give people across the country the opportunity to join thousands across the globe who will toast the national Bard whilst enjoy food, poetry and celebrations, raising a glass to Burns from every corner of the world.”

Elsewhere across the country, Scotland’s Winter Festivals will see dozens of cultural events and activities taking place highlighting the best of Burns’ poetry and music with funding support from the Scottish Government.

From Dumfries and Mauchline to Inverness and Perth, the programme of events features everything from traditional recitals and ceilidhs to suppers and music performances.

More information on Burns events is available at scotland.org/events/burns-night

Red, Red Rose Street is a Unique Events production supported by Scotland’s Winter Festivals, the City of Edinburgh Council and Essential Edinburgh. Unique Events are working in partnership with Gilded Balloon at the Rose Theatre.  Full details of the programme of events, and all tickets, can be found at www.redredrosestreet.co.uk

Unique Director Penny Dougherty said, “We are delighted to see the return of Red, Red Rose Street, three-day winter festival celebrating the works, life and legacy of Robert Burns. With a packed programme of events we aim to commemorate the Bard while highlighting Scotland’s continuing cultural offering to the world. It seems fitting that our capital city hosts a new Burns Festival as Robert Burns certainly made his mark on Edinburgh's streets