The search is on for photos and videos of the Northern Lights, captured anywhere over Scotland earlier this year.

The organisers of the Big Burns Supper are planning to project images and video footage onto a building in Dumfries as part of the annual arts festival, which is making a welcome return in 2025.

Big Burns Supper was founded in Dumfries in 2012 to celebrate the life and legacy of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, who produced some of his greatest work while living at Ellisland Farm, just north of the town.

Graham Main, executive producer and founder of Big Burns Supper, said: “The Northern Lights – also known as the aurora borealis – are a natural phenomenon that often look more spectacular on film than to the naked eye.

“They are common inside the Arctic Circle but visible this far south only when geomagnetic storms from the sun hit the Earth.

“There have been several such storms this year – one in particular on May 10 – when photographers captured stunning images locally, which we’d love to incorporate in the 2025 Big Burns Supper.

“Our plan is to create a four-minute looped film that will be underscored by a new piece from Dumfries Community Choir. It’s going to be brilliant.”

All those who contribute will be credited as part of the event and imagery can be upload here

The Big Burns Supper is the UK’s largest winter fringe festival with more than 150 events including the biggest Burns Night celebration in the world.

It features a heady mixture of cabaret, comedy, music and entertainment in more than 30 venues as Dumfries goes bonkers for three weekends of winter magic.

The 2024 event had to be cancelled because of funding issues but it is set to return with a vengeance in 2025, running from January 17 to February 2.

Burns Night Live is streamed live around the world and Big Burns Supper is also the home of Dumfries Carnival, one of Scotland’s largest community events.

Councillor Gail Macgregor, the leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, said: “The return of Big Burns Supper in January is very welcome and will really help profile Dumfries as the place to be during Burns season.

“The festival lifts the spirits during the January blues and I’m looking forward to looking through the programme and getting along to many of the events.”

Dumfries and Galloway is one of the best places in the UK to stargaze and
photograph the Northern Lights.
Galloway Forest Park has been designated a dark sky park because of the absence of light pollution.

Clatteringshaws Loch and Kirroughtree Visitor Centre are perfect spots to view the night sky and there are often stargazing events and guided tours by special dark sky rangers.

More information about the Big Burns Supper can be found on their website here