Whit’s on this weekend?
There’s plenty to see and do in Orkney, this weekend! Check out out website to find out more…
Japan Weekend
This Thursday saw the launch of a weekend celebrating Japanese culture.
Organised by Orkney Japan Association alongside the Japan Foundation, a series of fun activities for all ages will take place in the run-up to Japanese Children’s Day, celebrated on May 5 each year.
On Thursday evening Stromness Town Hall played host to a flower arranging demonstration, run by Deborah Hathorn — a top teacher from the Sogetsu School of Ikebana, a type of Japanese flower arranging.
The fun continues on Saturday, at the King Street Halls, Kirkwall, with a special family event. Along with origami, calligraphy, and a chance to try on a kimono, there will also be an opportunity to learn a traditional Japanese dance with Tsuchigumo Japanese drums. This will also provide a second opportunity to learn Ikebana flower arranging, at 2.30pm.
Rounding off events will be a concert at Kirkwall Grammar School, featuring the Tsuchigumo Daiko drummers. OJA hopes that the Saturday night event will help to raise money to buy ten WADAIKO practice drums for Orkney schools.
To find out more about this weekend of celebration, you can visit the Orkney Japan Association Facebook page.
Car Treasure Hunt
May 4, 2019 7:00 pmFirth Community Centre will be hosting a car treasure hunt, this Saturday.
Cars to leave the community centre between 7pm and 7.30pm.
ÂŁ10 per car, including supper.
Bigsy Whalps
May 5, 2019 4:00 pmIf you fancy a tune, this Sunday, the St Ola Hotel, Kirkwall, will be hosting a Rugby Sevens Session.
The Bigsy Whalps will be playing in the back bar from 4pm.
Mirran Hall
May 5, 2019You can check out Mirran Hall’s latest work at her new exhibition, Masks, at the Loft Gallery, St Margaret’s Hope, until May 21.
Clestrain Open Day
May 5, 2019The John Rae Society will be hosting an open weekend at the explorer’s birthplace of the Hall of Clestrain, Orphir, this weekend — and a very special artefact will be on show.
Society president Andrew Appleby believes he may have tracked down a kayak which belonged to the Orkney explorer, who is remembered for tracking down the lost expedition led by Sir John Franklin.
The Inuit kayak was donated to the society by Edinburgh resident Barbara Rae, who bought it from an antiques dealer there.
“The dealer said that he had been sold the kayak by a man from Orkney, who said that it had once belonged to John Rae,” Mr Appleby explained.
Though the authenticity of the kayak’s history has not been ascertained, Mr Appleby believes that it is a genuine vessel of the type which would have been used by the Inuit at the time — John Rae was known for his friendliness with the native people living in the Arctic.
Another new find for the society is an old rental book pertaining to the land on which the Hall of Clestrain is built.
To discover more about these finds, you can visit the Hall of Clestrain on May 4, 5, and 6 between 11am and 5pm.
Coffee Morning
May 4, 2019 10:00 am - 11:30 amDial-a-Bus will be hosting a coffee morning, this Saturday. Head down to the King Street Halls, Kirkwall, for raffles and stalls from 10am until 11.30am.
David Bowen
May 4, 2019If you feel like a bit of music, this Saturday night, the Royal British Legion, Kirkwall will play host to musician David Bowen.
Robinson RR
May 4, 2019Robinson RR will be exhibiting his latest work at the Northlight Gallery, Stromness, until May 15.