Welcome to
Annan the History Town
Enlivening Annan's past to create a brighter future for the town...
Annan the History Town
Annan’s history came in waves like our Solway tide, carrying Romans to settle on our river banks, bringing Vikings with their haaf net fishing which we still practise here today’; attracting the Normans including Robert the Bruce’s family who built Annan Castle. The fierce power of Annan River swept it away and centuries of turmoil ensued. When cross-border hostilities ceased, exciseman Rabbie Burns patrolled this smuggler coast and wrote great poems in Annan. Prosperity came in the 19th Century. Record-breaking tall ships were built in Annan and sailed the Atlantic from our harbour with cargoes of people and sandstone. This red sandstone ,which helped build New York, still brightens our High Street and every building , courtyard and back wynd has a story to tell of great writers , radical churchmen. fine artists, military leaders and more!

Start planning your summer 2023 with Annan the History Town
this July & August
Saturday 8th. July…..Launch Day. Gracies Banking. 11am-1pm
- Official opening by Professor David Thomson, Annandale Distillery. Music by The Samba Sisters and Ukes Akimbo ukulele band.
- Free sweets for the youngsters.
Sat & Sun 15/16 July.…….Grocers & Supermarkets Exhibition
in St Andrews Church Hall. Sat. 11am-4pm. Sun 1pm-4pm
Friday 21st July…Strasbourg Youth Orchestra. Annan Academy
- 7pm for 7.30pm. Touring Scotland in July, this 53-piece orchestra delight audiences across Europe with their range of popular and classical music. Tickets available online – press the Book Online button.
Thursday 27th. July...A Taste of Burns. La Fortuna Restaurant, High Street, Annan
- Enjoy a meal and be entertained by three guest speakers. Starts 7.30pm. 2 course meal £24; 3 course meal£30. To book a table, phone the restaurant 01461 201999
Sat & Sun 29/30 July….School Memories Exhibition
- St Andrews Church Hall. Sat 11am-4pm. Sun 1pm-4pm
Sunday 6th. August… FUNDay.
- Corner House Hotel. 12 noon -4pm. An opportunity to meet members of some of our local clubs, organisations and events. Participate in the games and fundraising stalls, meet the volunteers and discover how vibrant our community really is. Free admission.
Sat & Sun 12/13 August.…Industries & Buildings Exhibition
- St Andrews Church hall. Sat 11am-4pm. Sun 1pm-4pm
Sat & Sun 19/20 August.. Historic Battles of the Centuries
- Normans and Vikings come together on the Everholm by the banks of the River Annan! Two re-enactment camps to visit and two battles to enjoy each day. Youngsters – learn how to sword fight. Save money – Early bird tickets now available (day of your choice). Adults £5. Schoolchildren £1. Under school age free. Tickets available online. press the Book Online Button. 12noon to 4pm.
Thursday 24th. August….‘Annan’s Fishy Tales’
- Our town is ‘the home of scampi’. Enjoy a meal and and learn more about fish tales at Our Place, High Street, Annan. Choice of 2 course (£24) or three course (£30). To reserve a table, please phone the restaurant 01461 380390.
Sunday 27th. August…Kite Festival and Family Fun Day
- Newington Sports Field. Free admission. First time ever at our Summer Festival, watch over twenty large kites in the air. Talk to the experts on how to fly a kite. Annan Athletic’s ‘Beat The Goalie’, kiddies rides. bouncy castles and more for all the family to enjoy.
More events to be added in the coming weeks. If you would like to be involved in any of our events, please phone festival director Graeme MacGregor on 07801 631892
Photographs and/or video will be taken during the 2023 Summer Festival events.
By attending ATHT events you grant the organisers full rights to use the images resulting from the photography/video filming, and any reproductions or adaptations of the images for fundraising, publicity or other purposes to help future events. This includes (but is not limited to) the right to use them in printed and online publicity, social media, press releases and funding applications.
If you do not wish to be photographed please inform an event organiser.