Museum events, exhibitions and activities
Museums are a warm place with a friendly face
Free to visit and have regularly changing craft activities suitable for children and families as well as temporary exhibitions and reference books available to browse and read.
John Gray Centre (Museum) 15 Lodge Street, Haddington, EH41 3DX.
Thursday and Friday 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 4pm.
John Muir's Birthplace 126 High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ.
Wednesday – Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm.
Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1ER.
Saturday 2 to 4pm courtesy of Dunbar and District History Society volunteers.
Visit past exhibitions or explore our local history from the comfort of your home or a local library!
John Gray Centre East Lothian History
What’s so special about bogs? An exhibition from one of our partner organisations, the John Muir Trust, as part of their Peatland Appeal. Discover more about this slow-growing, water-packed ecosystem that’s fast becoming recognised as an amazing collector of carbon, a rich archaeological site, and home to unique species of wildlife.
John Muir, Earth, Planet, Universe This exhibition focuses on John Muir’s legacy and his role as an environmental activist and successful campaigner and his relevance for our situation today in addressing the climate crisis.
Muir Houses Through Time Museum Assistant David Anderson spent part of the 2020 lockdown amalgamating all his research on the buildings occupied by the Muirs on Dunbar High Street. What has emerged are tales of commerce, greed and deceit as we follow the lives of those who have occupied the site from the iron age onwards. First published as a series of blogs June – August 2020
Gardens of East Lothian An exhibition by Sheila Sim Photography. East Lothian has a long and proud heritage of gardening and has produced several horticultural pioneers. With its good climate and fertile soil, the county has often been called ‘the garden of Scotland’.
125 Years of the Sierra Club This exhibition curated by Friends of John Muir’s Birthplace gave an overview of the history of the Sierra Club with an emphasis on John Muir’s involvement in the founding, and ethos, of the organisation.
John Muir and Geology
Another exhibition from Friends of John Muir’s Birthplace John Muir and Geology explores the Scottish heroes who helped unravel Dunbar’s geological history.
Ukraine/Scotland – Land Art and Photography Exhibition
John Gray Centre, 15 Lodge Street, Haddington, EH41 3DX
Friday 11 October 2024 to 25 January 2025. Opening times at www.johngraycentre.org
LAND is the focus of this exhibition and what it means to people when it is the land of their birth, their own country. Many Ukrainians, for the time being, have settled in Scotland. As a group of artists both Ukrainian and Scottish, we wanted to record this brief moment in history and celebrate the connection between the two countries. We celebrate the land with photography, painting, print, drawing and some small sculpture. Although the conflict continues there is still the need to enjoy the beauty of the landscape of each country, a subject which has inspired artist for centuries. Group exhibition curated by Cathy Bell.
Find out more here
Images: Top L to R photograph by Vika Yasynska and Bass Rock by David Hutchison. Bottom L-R Land by Cathy Bell and Saturation by Ira Andreichuk.
Working Lives at Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery
Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery, High Street, Dunbar EH42 1ER
October to March, Saturdays 2 to 4pm
Display open courtesy of Dunbar & District History Society. Free admission but donations welcome.
Dunbar’s Town House or Tolbooth is more than 400 years old and touched the lives of many people. Through the Town Council, Police Station, Library, Registrars, Tourist Information, Housing Office, MP and MSP Office, Museum and many more!
Do you know someone who worked here? Have you been to a wedding here? We would love to hear your stories and see your photos.
Step back in time as we help you discover the hidden past of this iconic building.
New year, new programme at the Brunton
New year, new programme!
The Brunton are so excited to welcome you back to our venues in Musselburgh and Haddington for what promises to be a fantastic year of performances. With a fresh line-up of captivating shows and talented performers, the 2025 season is set to dazzle and delight audiences of all ages. From world-class musical acts to thought provoking theatre and blockbuster hits, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Starting off the year with a bang, Rikki and Me tells the story of on of Scotland’s funniest comedians. Presented by The Brunton in association with David Ross, this production features an incredible community cast as they bring back to life some of Rikki’s most beloved characters. Rikki and Me will be performing at Loretto Theatre between Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 January at 7:30pm with a Saturday Matinee at 2:00pm.
Book 'Rikki and Me'
For those that adore the magic of cinema, The Brunton are ecstatic to be bringing a programme of films to Haddington. Supported by Film Hub Scotland, Film Fridays has something for everyone. The first Family Film of 2025 will be Moana 2. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. Moana 2 (PG) will be playing at the Corn Exchange in Haddington on Friday 24 January at 1:30pm.
Book 'Moana 2' (PG) | Haddington
For the first Matinee Movie of the Film Fridays programme, The Brunton will be playing Conclave (12A). When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church. Conclave (12A) is at Corn Exchange, Haddington on Friday 24 January at 4:15pm.
Book 'Conclave' (12A) in Haddington
And for those in Musselburgh that also love the silver screen, The Brunton continues their Midweek Movies programme at Loretto Theatre. Conclave (12A) will be playing on Wednesday 29 January at 7:00pm in the Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh.
Book 'Conclave' (12A) in Musselburgh
The highly anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator will be playing as The Brunton’s Big Screen Favourite. After his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now lead Rome, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and must look to his past to find strength to return the glory of Rome to its people. Gladiator II (15) is at Corn Exchange, Haddington on Friday 24 January at 7:00pm.
Book 'Gladiator 2'
On Wednesday 5 February A24’s tearjerker We Live in Time (15) will be playing at 7:00pm in the Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh. . An up-and-coming chef and a recent divorcee find their lives forever changed when a chance encounter brings them together, in a decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.
Book 'We Live In Time' (15)
Music connoisseurs can look forward to an intimate concert in the beautiful setting of Northesk Parish Church on Thursday 6 February. Join Nicholas Mulroy and a handful of Dunedin’s outstanding string players for a gig that knits together some of Henry Purcell’s greatest tunes with instrumental music by his contemporaries in London in the late 17th Century. Dunedin Consort will be performing at Northesk Parish Church on Thursday 6 February at 6:30pm in conversation with Nicholas Mulroy and 7:30pm for the concert.
Book Dunedin Consort tickets
Lunchtime football sessions
For the last 20 years every Wednesday lunchtime a small group of East Lothian Council employees have had a regular 7-a-side football game. This includes all ages and ability. Due to players moving away, retirements, workloads, and illness, numbers have fallen slightly. We are therefore looking to for new players.
We play at the 3G at Haddington Athletics pitch in Whittinghame Drive, Haddington every Wednesday lunch time and changing rooms/showers are available.
To cover the costs there is a small charge of £5.00 per game.
Email Neil Irvine (E-Mail: nirvine@eastlothian.gov.uk )
or Graham Mackenzie (E-Mail: gmackenzie@eastlothian.gov.uk)