The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is hosting a five-day festival this summer to mark the 220th anniversary of the first Burns Supper.

The Burns Two Twenty Festival in Alloway will feature day and evening activities for Burns enthusiasts of all ages, including a range of free events and will begin on July 21, the anniversary of the first ever Burns supper.

The festival is run by the National Trust for Scotland and will include an exciting outdoor and craft programme, then the same smallholding area transformed in the evening for a Summer Supper, pub night with interactive games and a comedy evening with Des Clarke.

While Burns suppers are today observed on the poet’s birthday on January 25, the first ever supper was held on the fifth anniversary of his death on July 21 1801 by friends in the cottage where he was born and the festival will mark this anniversary.

Events manager Lauren McKenzie, said: “The festival begins on July 21 with the Summer Supper, held within a marquee in the smallholding on the site of the Cottage, where the first Burns supper took place. We will have a top table of speakers and the traditional recitals but not in quite as formal a format as your usual Burns night. On Friday July 23 we are hosting a pub night, supplying local craft beers by the Ayrshire Brewing Company who have produced themed beers based on Burns, his life and stories.

“During the day we will have outdoor classes and activities, different craft sessions and things to do.

To book and find out more, visit: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/robert-burns-birthplace-museum