What’s on in Helensburgh & Lomond

Helensburgh and Gareloch Horticultural Society hold a series of talks, free to members, non members welcome £5, Doors open at 7pm, talk begins at 7.30pm, Refreshments at 8.30pm, more details on the HGHS website.

11 November MT O’Connell (Editor of Scotland Grows): Why does Gardening Make us Feel so Good?
2 December Horti Christmas Social
13 January Peter Hart: Cultivating Hellebores
10 February Colin Ainsworth: The Auricula, Culture and History
10 March Dugald McDougall: Growing Dahlias for showing with live demonstration

The Lennox Heritage Society is a local community group that has been meeting for many years. The main aim of the group is to study and celebrate the rich culture, heritage and history of West Dunbartonshire and beyond. We meet on a monthly basis from September to April and host talks and presentations by invited speakers. Meetings take place in the Concord Centre in central Dumbarton (next to the Denny Civic Theatre) and start at 7.30 pm. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available to purchase from about 7 pm. Membership subscription £10 per year, or £2 per talk. https://www.facebook.com/lennoxheritagesociety/ https://lennoxheritagesociet.wixsite.com/lennox-heritage-

11 November Kenny Brophy, Central Scotland at the Time of Stonehenge
9 December Mike Arnott Dunbartonshire and the Spanish Civil War
13 January tbc
10 February Florence Boyle Agitators, Activists and Campaigners
10 March William Henderson Alexander Govan and the Argyll Motor Works
14 April Elspeth Crocket The Long Goodbye

All events start at 7.30pm and are held at the Helensburgh Sailing Club. While the programme of events are for club members, non-members are very welcome to attend for a nominal contribution. Teas / coffees & biscuits are supplied at the break.

2026
24th September Demo Roy Burdon The invention of colour and The art of forgery
22nd October Demo Fiona Wilson Abstract landscape
12th November Demo Max McKinnon Landscape in acrylic with palette knife
10th December Demo Kerry Lindsell Wildlife portraiture
2027
14th January Demo Alastair Strachan Cityscape with collage

Join Cove and Kilcreggan Film Society for screenings on the second Thursday of October, November, January, February and March. Extra films and special screenings to be announced as the season progresses. More info at https://www.facebook.com/ckfilmsoc/

Doors open 7.30 for 7.45 screening. £5 for entry, £30 for a season ticket members free. Free popcorn, and you’re welcome to bring your own refreshments – glasses available in the Hall. Hope to see you there!

A programme of events at Cove Burgh Hall – visit https://eventlist.store/coveburghhall/tickets for tickets

Friday 13th November 7.30pm Lucy Farrell and Shane Pendergast

Rooted in the rich traditions of English and Maritime folk music, Lucy Farrell and Shane Pendergast bring together two distinct yet complementary voices in contemporary folk. Shane Pendergast & Lucy Farrell | Cove Burgh Hall

Saturday 5th December SING A SONG – A TRIBUTE TO THE CARPENTERS 7.30pm

Get that festive feeling and sing along to all the hits from the Carpenters’ classic ‘Christmas Portrait’ album, including Sleigh Ride, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and their 1971 hit Christmas single Merry Christmas Darling. Sing a Song: A Tribute to the Carpenters | Cove Burgh Hall

Other upcoming events… see Cove Burgh Hall website

6 February 2027 7-11pm – Girls love the 80s. Dust off your leg warmers and crimp your hair! Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is the high energy, neon-soaked tribute to the most vibrant decade in music history. Produced by West End choreographer and chart-topping artist Leona Marie, this show brings the electric atmosphere of the 1980s straight to your stage with unmatched professional polish and theatrical flair.

6 March 2027 – TADAH presents No 60 to the Somme

12 March 2027 7-11pm – Aespeniða are an acoustic duo performing experimental Nordic folk, comprising Barry Nisbet (vocals, fiddle and guitar) and Miriam Iorwerth (marimba and percussion).

27 March 2027 7-11pm – Deadly Acts Theatre: Alice with Malice. Interactive murder, mystery theatrical performance. It’s a dark tale of revenge from beyond the grave….set in the early part of the 19th century.  Alice built her life on the back of a dream. Over the years all that she had wanted or desired has been taken away. Now Alice wants it back…but someone is standing in her way to ensure that she never does. 

24 April 2027 7-11pm – Artistic Licence. Fronted by both a female and male singer, and consisting of highly experienced musicians, our aim and passion is filling your dance floor and delivering one of the best party experiences. With the latest sound and lighting equipment, Artistic License put on a superb show tailored to your needs.

Join Sharon Goodwin of Loopdyloop at The Summerhouse in Cardross on one of these fabulous craft workshops – various prices, see https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sew-silly-lily-30820443400 for full details

Absolute Beginner Crochet-along | Magic Ringless Keyrings Sat 29 Aug, 10:00
Crochet-along | Sunflower Brooch Sat 5 Sept, 10:00
Twirl-along | Botanical Wire Art Wall Hanging Sat 19 Sept, 10:00
Crochet-along | Iris Pocket Bag Sat 26 Sept, 10:00
Needle-Felt & Stitch-along | Painting with Fibre & Stitch 3 & 10 October 10:00
Absolute Beginner Crochet-along | Daisy Bookmark Sat 17 Oct, 10:00
Absolute Beginners Crochet-along | Peanut the Bear 24 & 31 October, 10:00
Christmas Crochet-along | Lil’ Penguin Bauble Sat 7 Nov, 10:00
Absolute Beginners Christmas Crochet-along | Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Sat 14 Nov, 10:00
Wire Art | Wire Christmas Decorations Sat 28 Nov, 10:00
Christmas Wreath Making 5, 6, 12 and 13 December, 13:00 – 15:00

Join Helensburgh Music Society for their seasonal programme of events, held at Helensburgh & Lomond Civic Centre, starting at 7.30pm. Full programme details at Home | Helensburgh Music Society

13th September, 2026 Huw Wiggin (saxophone) & Oxana Shevchenko (piano)
4th October, 2026 Bute Wind Quintet
15th November, 2026 Giordano Buondonno (piano)
17th January, 2027 A4 Brass Quartet
21st February, 2027 Colin Scobie (violin) & Jâms Coleman (piano)
14th March, 2027 Isla String Quartet (This concert is supported by The Tunnell Trust)

Helensburgh Music Society presents a series of concerts each year, between October and March, in the form of performances by Professional Ensembles or Solo Recitals. Our concerts, in the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre on Clyde Street, Helensburgh, are open to everyone. An evening out listening to beautiful music, and a chance to meet friends over an interval drink. Ticket prices are low, especially the season ticket. We encourage performers to talk to the audiences, introducing both themselves and the pieces of music they are playing, expanding on the programme notes so adding to the accessibility of the music. Each year the programme we present, features a variety of performers and instrumental combinations. We also include repertoire ranging from early music to established classical works as well as modern compositions and Jazz. Performers include Scottish based musicians as well as international musicians and ensembles, all of the very highest calibre. It is also an important aim of HMS to offer opportunities to outstanding young artists, especially those based in Scotland.

The Cove & Kilcreggan Literary Society has speakers invited to give talks on a wide range of social, scientific and cultural topics. Our season runs from October through to March. The talks start at 8.00pm every other Monday evening. Membership for the whole season of 12 talks only £25. Visitors welcome at £3 per evening. Contact: cklitsoc@mail.com

Monday September 28th:Film, TV, Annika and Me, a talk by Arabella Page Croft. Arabella is the co-founder and CEO of Glasgow-based indie film and TV company Black Camel Pictures. Their award-winning series, Annika, shot on the Clyde and starring Nicola Walker, has achieved record-breaking viewing figures and secured a huge audience (currently no. 6 in the UK). Arabella will talk about shooting in Scotland and her life and work as a producer and director.

Monday 12th October: James Clerk Maxwell, a Scottish Genius, at talk by Gian-Luca Oppo of Strathclyde University. Gian-Luca will describe how Maxwell laid the foundations for our modern communication technologies including radio, television, and radar.

Monday 26th October: The Work of Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team, by Ross Cadie. Ross Cadie will describe how the team members volunteer and carry out search and rescue missions to find people in any weather and in sometimes extremely challenging environments.

Then 9, 23 November and 7 December

Talks take place in the Marriage Room at Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre on East Clyde Street at 7:00 PM. The programme meetings are free to attend. Those who come along will be invited to make a modest donation.

30 September 2026 – AGM, followed by Paul Murdoch on Clyde and Lomond: The Early Settlers
28 October 2026 – Gary Painter on Cinema History
25 November 2026 – Fiona Sinclair on Moments of Madness and Mackintosh
27 January 2027 – Fiona Baker on The Baird TV Centenary Celebrations
24 February 2027 – Two short talks. 1. David Bruce on John Stuart, 19th-century Provost of Helensburgh and prominent photographer. 2. Stewart Noble on the Battle of Glen Fruin.
31 March 2027 – Alasdair Jamison on Life inside the Roman Frontier of the Antonine Wall.

RSGS Members and students are entitled to free entry, some tickets may be available on the door with cash or card – all subject to availability. Part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society Inspiring People talks programme. 7.30pm Victoria Halls Helensburgh

24 September 2026 – Anne Strathie: A History of Polar Exploration in 50 Objects https://www.rsgs.org/Event/anne-strathie-a-history-of-polar-exploration-in-50-objects-helensburgh

29 October 2026 – Mark Wedgwood: From Boring to Dull https://www.rsgs.org/Event/mark-wedgwood-from-boring-to-dull-helensburgh

26 November 2026 – Dan Richards: Adventures After Dark: Overnight https://www.rsgs.org/Event/dan-richards-adventures-after-dark-overnight-helensburgh

28 January 2027 – Kevin Heath: The Lost Ships Active & Scotia https://www.rsgs.org/Event/kevin-heath-the-lost-ships-active-scotia-helensburgh

25 February 2027 – Mike Robinson: Shackleton and RSGS: A Shared History https://www.rsgs.org/Event/mike-robinson-shackleton-and-rsgs-a-shared-history-helensburgh

25 March 2027 – Julie Summers: The Everest Mystery: Sandy Irvine https://www.rsgs.org/Event/julie-summers-the-everest-mystery-sandy-irvine-helensburgh

As part of the Helensburgh Winter Festival, Dashers (or dawdlers) will be starting off from Colquhoun Square. Organised by Helensburgh HEART

Distance: Choose between the full 4KM dash or take Santa’s Secret Short Cut for approximately 2KM!
What you get: Every entrant receives a Santa hat and wristband, plus a festive finishing medal at the finish line!
Adults: £10 Children: £5 (under 16s must be accompanies by an adult) REGISTER ONLINE NOW! https://www.helensburghheart.com/events/santa-dash-2026

Title: Helensburgh Orchestra Winter Concert
A Winter concert, conducted by Michael Bawtree.
Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kijé Suite
Waldteufel: The Ice Skaters
Mozart: Sleigh Ride
Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 1 (Winter Dreams)
Conductor, Michael Bawtree, leader Christine Sinclair

Tickets: At the door, or from Destination Helensburgh, North-Northwest or Orchestra Members £12.50 (students £6, accompanied under 12s free)

All concerts start at 7pm and last about an hour. Entry is free although there is a retiring collection to help pay for the series.

25 October 2026 Edward Jowle (baritone) & Collin Shay (piano)
29 November 2026 Three Kilted Tenors
20 December 2026 (7.30pm) Annual ‘Come and Sing’ Christmas concert
24 January 2027 Helensburgh Chamber Orchestra Winds -Dvorak & Beethoven
28 February 2027 Glasgow University Chapel Choir
21 March 2027 Hermitage Academy
25 April 2027 Music for Friends
30 May 2027 West of Scotland Military Wives Choir
20 June 2027 Danny Miller (violin) and Derek Clark (piano) – Music of the Palm Court

Helensburgh and Gareloch Horticultural Society hold a series of talks, free to members, non members welcome £5, Doors open at 7pm, talk begins at 7.30pm, Refreshments at 8.30pm, more details on the HGHS website.

11 November MT O’Connell (Editor of Scotland Grows): Why does Gardening Make us Feel so Good?
2 December Horti Christmas Social
13 January Peter Hart: Cultivating Hellebores
10 February Colin Ainsworth: The Auricula, Culture and History
10 March Dugald McDougall: Growing Dahlias for showing with live demonstration

A series of talks held at Helensburgh Community Hub at 7.30pm – Non members welcome, with a £3 donation appreciated.

2026-2027 Season

September 2nd AGM
October 7th John Reid Beyond Burnswark: The Rehabilitation of a lost Conflict
November 4th George Prew-Stell Treasure Trove in the West of Scotland: How it works and what’s Coming up
December 2nd Richard Reeve Where the road leads: The Cast Iron Street Furniture of the Rosneath Peninsula and Beyond
February 3rd Carole Biggam Dyeing Red in Early Medieval England the role of Madder
March 3rd Derek Alexander By Yon Bonnie Banks exploring the Archaeology of Loch Lomond
April 7th Fraser Hunter Roman Scotland Life on the Edge of Empire

Noir at the Bar presents: A Very Merry Murder!

We all know Christmas can be murder (ho ho ho!) but to ease us gently into the mayhem of the season join a band of very merry murder makers for the second Helensburgh Noir at the Bar in collaboration with Helensburgh Community Hub.

Meet and hear from some of Scotland’s very best crime writers including multi-award winning Denise Mina, 2026 McIlvanney prize winner Frances Crawford and G R Halliday, writer of the books behind ITV’s The Dark.

Nine writers will read from their work, answer questions, and sign and dedicate books that will be on sale by Daydreams Bookshop all evening.

Proceeds from the event will support the the Hub’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library as well as The Tower itself.

Tickets are expected to go fast so get yours now!

Tickets Noir At The Bar – A Very Merry Murder

Join Sharon Goodwin of Loopdyloop at The Summerhouse in Cardross on one of these fabulous craft workshops – various prices, see https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sew-silly-lily-30820443400 for full details

Absolute Beginner Crochet-along | Magic Ringless Keyrings Sat 29 Aug, 10:00
Crochet-along | Sunflower Brooch Sat 5 Sept, 10:00
Twirl-along | Botanical Wire Art Wall Hanging Sat 19 Sept, 10:00
Crochet-along | Iris Pocket Bag Sat 26 Sept, 10:00
Needle-Felt & Stitch-along | Painting with Fibre & Stitch 3 & 10 October 10:00
Absolute Beginner Crochet-along | Daisy Bookmark Sat 17 Oct, 10:00
Absolute Beginners Crochet-along | Peanut the Bear 24 & 31 October, 10:00
Christmas Crochet-along | Lil’ Penguin Bauble Sat 7 Nov, 10:00
Absolute Beginners Christmas Crochet-along | Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Sat 14 Nov, 10:00
Wire Art | Wire Christmas Decorations Sat 28 Nov, 10:00
Christmas Wreath Making 5, 6, 12 and 13 December, 13:00 – 15:00

A programme of events at Cove Burgh Hall – visit https://eventlist.store/coveburghhall/tickets for tickets

Friday 13th November 7.30pm Lucy Farrell and Shane Pendergast

Rooted in the rich traditions of English and Maritime folk music, Lucy Farrell and Shane Pendergast bring together two distinct yet complementary voices in contemporary folk. Shane Pendergast & Lucy Farrell | Cove Burgh Hall

Saturday 5th December SING A SONG – A TRIBUTE TO THE CARPENTERS 7.30pm

Get that festive feeling and sing along to all the hits from the Carpenters’ classic ‘Christmas Portrait’ album, including Sleigh Ride, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and their 1971 hit Christmas single Merry Christmas Darling. Sing a Song: A Tribute to the Carpenters | Cove Burgh Hall

Other upcoming events… see Cove Burgh Hall website

6 February 2027 7-11pm – Girls love the 80s. Dust off your leg warmers and crimp your hair! Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is the high energy, neon-soaked tribute to the most vibrant decade in music history. Produced by West End choreographer and chart-topping artist Leona Marie, this show brings the electric atmosphere of the 1980s straight to your stage with unmatched professional polish and theatrical flair.

6 March 2027 – TADAH presents No 60 to the Somme

12 March 2027 7-11pm – Aespeniða are an acoustic duo performing experimental Nordic folk, comprising Barry Nisbet (vocals, fiddle and guitar) and Miriam Iorwerth (marimba and percussion).

27 March 2027 7-11pm – Deadly Acts Theatre: Alice with Malice. Interactive murder, mystery theatrical performance. It’s a dark tale of revenge from beyond the grave….set in the early part of the 19th century.  Alice built her life on the back of a dream. Over the years all that she had wanted or desired has been taken away. Now Alice wants it back…but someone is standing in her way to ensure that she never does. 

24 April 2027 7-11pm – Artistic Licence. Fronted by both a female and male singer, and consisting of highly experienced musicians, our aim and passion is filling your dance floor and delivering one of the best party experiences. With the latest sound and lighting equipment, Artistic License put on a superb show tailored to your needs.

Formed in 2004 in Glasgow, Spiders On Mars is a group of musicians who are all truly bonded by a love for the music of the 20th Century’s greatest musical icon. With over 40 classic hits and fan favourites to draw upon, Spiders On Mars are not a tribute band, Spiders On Mars are a rocking tribute to the music of David Bowie.

Tickets Spiders On Mars – the music of Bowie