Marymass Festival is a community festival run in partnership by two voluntary organisations, Irvine Carters' Society and the Marymass Festival Committee.

 

Each group oversees different elements of the festival. The Carters' take care of the parades, racing, old folks concert and paddock on Irvine Moor. The Festival Committee organise the rest, including the fireworks display, festival of light parade, opening ceremony and activities on the Moor such as live jousting. 

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The Festival of Marymass dates back to the Middle Ages, with Irvine Carters' Society helping to lead the celebrations since their inception back in 1753.

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Changes have been made to the festival over its many hundreds of years in existence, with the biggest change seeing the introduction of an annually selected Marymass Queen and four Marys in 1928.

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Other traditions have very much remained, such as the Captain of the Carters leading the parade. With the main parade retaining the core principle of allowing no motorised vehicles, it has become one of the largest horse drawn processions in Scotland.

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The biggest draw about Marymass is undoubtedly the parade, racing and events on Irvine Moor on our main day, which falls on the third Saturday after the first Monday in August.

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Being a community festival over 12 days, Marymass is so much more than just one main day. There are so many fantastic events throughout, including the local football derby, 10K road race, dog show, flower show, fireworks display, duck race, bowls competition, live music, comedy gigs, markets and so much more.

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Keep an eye on our website over the coming months as we add more information which will include:

- The history of the festival,

- Past Captains, Queens and Marys,

- 2024 events,

- Getting here & staying here