Big Burns Supper: Aim to feed 5,000 Haggis meals

Hamish the Haggis will be encouraging children to enjoy a Burns Supper of their own at the festival

The Big Burns Supper festival is hoping to see 5,000 people tuck into a haggis meal over its three days in Dumfries.

The event runs from Friday to Sunday with a wide range of concerts, comedy and community activities planned.

As part of a drive to get more people enjoying Burns Suppers, a special mascot - Hamish the Haggis - has been touring schools.

Director Graham Main said Burns Night was all about "great food, good company and lots of fun".

During the festival, Hamish the Haggis will host an "interactive family show" including a children's Burns Supper.

'Great tradition'

There will also be 10-minute Burns Suppers hosted by Jane Brown, President of the Robert Burns World Federation.

Big Burns Supper will also be serving haggis, neeps and tatties at its Spiegeltent venue, with the aim of taking the dish to as many people as possible.

Mr Main said they had come up with "lots of different ways for people to enjoy a Burns Supper" and hoped to see 5,000 served over the weekend.

"It's especially important to make sure that families can enjoy this great Scottish tradition, which is why we are so pleased to have Hamish with us, offering something which is fun and memorable to a whole new generation," he added.

Meanwhile, South of Scotland SNP MSP Joan McAlpine will lead a member's debate at Holyrood congratulating the Big Burns Supper 2014 on Wednesday.

The debate can be watched live from 17:45 or on demand at BBC Scotland's Democracy Live Website.