Get Involved in The Irvine Valley Lace Festival
7–10 October 2026
The Irvine Valley Lace Festival
From Wednesday 7th October until Saturday 10th October, we are bringing the Irvine Valley Lace Festival to life across our town halls.
This festival is a huge celebration of our world-famous heritatage - from Joseph Hood's first looms in 1838, to Alexander Morton introducing the power loom to the valley in 1876, and to our incredible local weavers who even helped introduce football to Sweden and Spain.
To make this festival truly special, we need your help.
This festival isn't just about looking back. It's about celebrating and supporting our two remaining mills—MYB Textiles and Haddow, Aird & Crerar—recognising their exceptional craftsmanship and championing them well into the 21st century.
Did you, your parents, or your grandparents work in one of the valley's lace mills?
Whether you worked in the weaving sheds, as a tenter, or spent years in the "Grey Room" as a hand darner, your stories are the real history of this valley.
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
Stories & Memories
If you worked in any of Newmilns' historic lace factories, we'd love to hear from you. No memory is too small—the daily routines, the friendships, the sound of the mill horns, and the pride of the craft all help bring our history to life.
Exhibition Artefacts
We are gathering items for our town hall exhibitions. If you have vintage lace samples, darning tools, original photographs, or mill or football memorabilia, please consider loaning them to us for the duration of the festival.
Every item loaned will be carefully catalogued, looked after, and returned promptly after the event.
We also came across this old YouTube video about the Valley Weavers, a TV Documentary by Galston's Billy Kay. It's about weaving in the Irvine Valley, and features local historian Jim Mair, well known for his Pictorial History books.
>>Click here to view the Valley Weavers TV Documentary by Billy Kay
GET IN TOUCH
Email us at hello@lovenewmilns.org
Or pop into our CHaT Hub (the old Post Office), 4 Brown Street, Newmilns.
We will also be at the Newmilns Gala Day on Saturday 25th July - just head to the Newmilns Lotto stall where our volunteers will be happy to speak to you.
FESTIVAL ITINERARY
WED 07 OCT – SAT 10th OCT
The Lace Exhibitions
Darvel Town Hall, Morton Hall Newmilns, and Galston Town Hall
Explore artifacts, exquisite lace collections, and a breathtaking scrim painting commissioned by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
SAT 09 MAY
Ladyton Loch Loop Walk and Afternoon Tea (3:00 pm)
A relaxing afternoon walk around the Ladyton Loch Loop followed by afternoon Tea at 3.00 pm in the Hogg Hall, Galston. Check the Galston Trust Facebook page for further details, or our Events Page to book tickets online.
THU 08 OCT
Behind the Scenes: MYB Textiles
A rare opportunity to see the world-renowned surviving looms in action. (Pre-booking is essential as there are limited spaces.)
FRI 09 OCT
Behind the Scenes: Haddow, Aird & Crerar
Discover the craftsmanship inside one of our two remaining lace factories. (Pre-booking is essential as there are limited spaces.)
SAT 10 OCT
The Lace Trail Walk (10.30 am)
A guided journey through the Irvine Valley landscape, winding from Darvel through to Galston.
The Warp & The Weft: An Evening of Conversation (7:30 pm)
Join celebrated broadcaster Billy Kay at Darvel Town Hall for a poignant night of stories and reflections on the human legacy of the looms.
BEYOND THE LOOMS
Throughout the festival, use the Newmilns Heritage App to discover our Lace Murals and the Alexander Fleming mural, who famously discovered penicillin in 1928 in Darvel and the incredible global links of our lace workers in the Irvine Valley - did you know they helped found football clubs in Gothenburg and Barcelona?
You can download a copy of the Newmilns Heritage App here:
>>Click here to download the Newmilns Heritage App
TICKETS & INFORMATION
Don’t miss this once-in-a-century milestone. Make a day of it and enjoy a warm welcome at our local coffee shops and pubs! More information is available on our events page:
BEYOND THE LOOMS
Throughout the festival, use the Newmilns Heritage App to discover our Lace Murals and the Alexander Fleming mural, who famously discovered penicillin in 1928 in Darvel and the incredible global links of our lace workers in the Irvine Valley - did you know they helped found football clubs in Gothenburg and Barcelona?
You can download a copy of the Newmilns Heritage App here:
>>Download the Newmilns Heritage App
TICKETS & INFORMATION
Don’t miss this once-in-a-century milestone. Make a day of it and enjoy a warm welcome at our local coffee shops and pubs! More information is available on our events page:
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