History of Mauchline Holy Fair

Mauchline Holy Fair is one of the oldest village fairs in Scotland, dating back to at least the 1700s and immortalised in Robert Burns’ poem of the same name. It is a unique community-run event catering to 15,000+ visitors each year. It’s open to all and celebrates local heritage by bringing history to life for both residents and visitors to the area. The fair takes place on the last Saturday in May, and is a very important date for Mauchline town, as well as visitors who travel from across Ayrshire and beyond. It takes place across the historic town centre, with every inch of available indoor and outdoor space in use on event day. 

What’s special about Mauchline? 

Mauchline is a village, founded by Cistercian monks of Melrose in 1165, where they built an abbey (850 years ago). It lies eight miles southeast of Kilmarnock on the A76 trunk road to Dumfries. Like many surrounding villages, agriculture, then mining were the main occupations.  

The national bard ‘Robert Burns’, lived and worked in Mauchline at Mossgiel farm, after marrying Jean Armour he moved to Castle Street, which is now the Burns House Museum. Burns wrote many of his finest works while in Mauchline.  

“I’m gaun to Mauchline Holy Fair to spend an hour in daffin” 

Now with a population of 3,900, we are a very community minded village, with a vibrant primary school, pre-school nursery, Burns Bairns Toddlers groups, Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Guides, Brownies and Rainbows, all catering for the young and youth of the village. In addition, it has many recreation clubs and societies for all age groups. In the past Mauchline was home to some large employers – now mostly gone – with many people commuting to Kilmarnock, Ayr and Glasgow. Despite changes in local industries the town remains a vibrant and welcoming place for residents and visitor alike, and we remain proud ambassadors for the businesses based in the town including all kinds of agricultural businesses, engineering, food and drink and even the manufacture of Kay’s Curling Stones – exclusively supplying the Olympic Games! These special stones are made with granite from Ailsa Craig making this an extra special asset to the village.

Mauchline Holy Fair was rejuvenated, brought back to life in 2002, staged, until till 2014 by the highly respected Mauchline Burns Club. From 2015 the Holy Fair Group, a mixture of like-minded Mauchline residents took up the mantle developing the once low-key event into a highly successful day on the Scottish event calendar. 

With successes from various fundraising activities, much sought after grants, sponsorship and donations, we continue the promotion, expansion and development of the Holy Fair, and 2027 is no different! The unique event allows the villagers of Mauchline, surrounding villages and areas, together with the influx of many from around the world who attend, to experience the living history and culture of ‘Mauchline’ and East Ayrshire.