Get set for Marymass 2025 with events kicking off next week

And the fun will continue on Saturday, August 16 with three major events - the Carters’ Fourth Port Parade, the Festival of Light at the Harbourside and fireworks and shows on the Moor.

Marymass 2024  (Image: Charlie Gilmour) The Fourth Port Parade will leave Second Avenue (behind Sainsbury’s) at 11am, assembling at 10.45am. The parade is expected to reach the harbourside around 12.15pm.

Anyone with a horse or horse and cart is asked to come and get involved in the event.

It is a great opportunity to get the chance to trial your horse in a parade environment before Marymass Saturday the following week, or just to show off your horse with a walk around town.

Marymass 2024 (Image: Charlie Gilmour) No need to ride your horse, you can walk them too. This is for horses and riders of all abilities. It is completely free to take part in the parade.

There is a designated car park at the main car park of Cunninghame House, where you can walk up to Second Avenue from there (around a 10-minute walk). The parade snakes through Fullarton and Harbourside before ending at Cunningham House at 1pm.

The festival parade that same Saturday gives everyone the chance to come and along and help illuminate the town. It will depart Irvine Cross at 9pm.

(Image: Charlie Gilmour) Then at 9.45pm on Irvine Moor, the firework display will begin. There will be plenty of food and entertainment, including a fun fair.

The Queen-Elect will be crowned at noon on Marymass Saturday, August 23, followed by one of the biggest parades in Scotland, heading to the Moor, where the fun and games begin.

There will be some amazing stalls, fun rides and the ever-popular horse racing events to enjoy.

(Image: Charlie Gilmour) And the iconic Greasy Pole event will return, which sees teams climb up in an quest to be the first to grab the ham at the very top.

The closing event is the Marymass Flower Show in the Volunteer Rooms on Monday, August 25.

Here's to a cracking Marymass 2025!

Look out for plenty of coverage of the big event on the Irvine Times website and on our Facebook and social media sites in the weeks to come.