Civic Week is a full week of community events in late June, organised by Girvan Attractions together with other local groups. It is not one big show. Each evening has something different on: a pet show, bingo, a car treasure hunt, a psychic night. In the middle of the week there is a free party for the town's older residents, and the Summer Cup football runs throughout. Most of it is free or costs a few pounds, and the paid events are part of how the charity raises money.
In 2026 it ran from Monday 22 to Sunday 28 June, with the Stumpy Jail Open Day on Sunday 21 June as part of the week.
The 2026 programme
| Day | Event | Time | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 21 June | Stumpy Jail Open Day | 11:00–16:00 | Stumpy Corner | Free |
| Mon 22 June | Pet show | 18:30 | Rose Gardens, Victory Park | £1 per category |
| Tue 23 June | Bingo | Doors 18:00, eyes down 18:30 | Duff Street Kitchen | £10 a book |
| Wed 24 June | Senior citizens' party | 13:00 | Girvan Bowling Club | Free, ticket needed |
| Thu 25 June | Car treasure hunt | Register 18:00–18:30 | Harbour car park | £5 a car |
| Fri 26 June | Psychic night | 19:00 | Upstairs at the Harbour Bar | £10, ticket needed |
| All week | Summer Cup football | Various | Hamilton Park | Free |
Stumpy Jail Open Day
The week opens at the old town jail. The open day tells the story of Stumpy with re-enacted court scenes, exhibits, and a chance to try axe throwing. Free, 11:00 to 16:00. More on the Stumpy Jail events page.
Pet show
Open to all animals, in the Rose Gardens at Victory Park, and judged by a local vet. Entry is £1 per category. Winners get a rosette donated by Girvan Pet Shop and a voucher to spend there, and there is a raffle at £1 a ticket. Categories have included:
- Any pet under 12 months
- Any variety bitch, and any variety dog
- Any pet with a handler under 14
- Any variety, not a dog
- The pet that looks most like its owner
- Most obedient dog
- Child's best friend
- Waggiest tail
- The one the judge would like to take home
Bingo
A night of bingo at Duff Street Kitchen with cash prizes: a line and a full house, plus Irish bingo and a raffle. Doors open at 18:00, eyes down at 18:30, and books are £10.
Senior citizens' party
One of the events that best shows what Girvan Attractions is for. It is a free afternoon for the town's older residents at Girvan Bowling Club, starting at 13:00 with afternoon tea — sandwiches, home baking and drinks — followed by entertainment from local musicians, singers and the Highland dancers. It is free, but you need a ticket, collected from the Community Action Network (CAN) office in Girvan.
Car treasure hunt
A family evening out. Register at the harbour car park between 18:00 and 18:30 (£5 a car), then follow the clue sheet around Carrick, looking for clues and treasure along the way. When you get back to Girvan there is a cuppa waiting, and the winners get their trophies and prizes.
Psychic night
Upstairs at the Harbour Bar at 19:00, with the medium Sally Buxton in 2026. Tickets are £10 and must be bought in advance; in 2026 they were sold at Margret's Fruit & Veg and the Sweetie Shop. Irish bingo and a raffle run on the night.
Summer Cup football
A long-standing part of Civic Week. The Summer Cup is a football competition at Hamilton Park, free to watch, with a 7-a-side youth competition and an 11-a-side adult one. It is a partnership between Girvan Attractions, Girvan Youth Football Club and South Ayrshire Council, with matches through the week up to Sunday 28 June.
Also during the week
- Girvan Bowling Club holds its annual Civic Week bowling competition, with the prizes presented by the civic dignitaries.
- Girvan Attractions also lists a sprint triathlon among the week's events. Check locally for details and dates.
When is the next one?
Civic Week is in late June, a couple of weeks after the Carrick Lowland Gathering. As of November 2026 the 2027 programme had not been published; it appears on the Girvan Attractions website and Facebook page first. Late June has the longest evenings of the year on this coast, with sunsets after 10pm, so it is a good week to visit anyway.
Supporting Girvan Attractions
None of this happens without volunteers, and none of it is free to put on. Girvan Attractions pays for its events through grants, sponsorship, advertising, donations and its own fundraising, so if you have enjoyed one of them, there are simple ways to give something back:
- Donate online through the link on the Girvan Attractions website.
- Drop something in a collection tin while you are out in the town — there are tins in a long list of Girvan shops, pubs and cafés. See the full list.
- Come to their fundraisers — bingo nights, psychic nights, raffles and the monthly lucky draw on their Facebook page.
- Lend a hand. Their committee meetings are open to everyone. Email info@girvanattractions.co.uk or message them on Facebook.
