12/12/2025
Friday's What's On Diary
( if you want an item included in our morning round-up send the details in BEFORE 4pm the previous working day to: [email protected] )
Alistair Carmichael and Liam Mcarthur have a Surgery in Stromness Community Centre from twelve till quarter to one with no appointment needed, and in the Parliamentary Office on Palace Road between five and quarter to six which is by appointment only, and to book ring 87 65 41.
The Glaitness Primary 7s are having an Enterprise sale today when Parents and Carers and other family are welcome between half two and half three in the dinner hall. They have lots of handmade products and the money raised will go to the P7 trip to Nethybridge.
Home Bakes and Produce and Raffles are available again today in Virgin Money bank on Broad Street.
St Andrews Senior Citizens have their Christmas Dinner at one o’ clock the day in St Andrews Community Centre.
And Westray Parish Kirk Youth Group have their Christmas Dinner tonight at half past seven in the Pierowall Hotel.
The Salvation Army Friendship Club meets at eleven o’ clock, and the Lunch Club follows at midday.
And the Salvation Army is leading carols at the Bellevue in the Hope tonight at seven o' clock, and say bring guitars, fiddles, or other instruments along, there will be sheet music for the carols.
Board Games are played in the Marengo Centre in the ‘Hope on Fridays between two and five.
The last Traditional Dancing of the year is tonight in the Cromarty Hall from half past seven till ten with a small festive celebration.
Birsay Agricultural Societies 'Farmers Gathereen' is in the Birsay Hall at half past seven tonight with guest speaker James Muir from Hermisgarth, Sanday. The £5 entry includes supper.
SIMBA is having a Christmas Memory Making Evening in the St Magnus Centre between half past six and half past eight tonight with mulled wine, crafting, mince pies, origami, and Christmas bauble making.
Palace Players pantomime Rumpelstiltskin is being performed at the Orkney Theatre tonight at seven o’ clock and on Saturday at two o’ clock and half past six. Tickets are available from the Joke Shop and at the door.
The Rotary Club is bringing Santa to Kirkwall on Saturday – the Sleigh will leave the Pier at eleven o’ clock and half past two, heading right up to Victoria Street and back again. Santa will also be taking presents to the residents in Hamnavoe House, St Rognvald’s, Sunnybrae, Braeburn Court and Kalisgarth, next week.
A Table Top Sale will be held in the Peedie Kirk Hall on Saturday between eleven and half past three, with lots of clothes, toys and other goods, and a raffle for a sauna voucher and hamper. It’s raising money for a new Orkney Drugs Dog.
Orcades Model Club has a Scale Model and Diecast sale in the St Magnus Centre from quarter to ten till half past five on Saturday, with proceeds to charity and club funds – cash only.
The Christmas Antique and Collectors Fair is on Saturday and Sunday in Finstown Community Centre from eleven till four both days, with a huge range of items including several Orkney chairs – one a Reynard Eunson hooded chair – and rugs, carpets, paintings, furniture and books.
St Peter’s Kirk in South Ronaldsay is having a Festive Event. The Kirk will be open on Saturday from eleven till three to view the competition entries and have refreshments. And on Sunday it’s open from eleven till four, with the Festive Bell being rung at three o’ clock, followed by Live Music, Carols, the Competition winners and refreshments.
Kirkwall Amateur Operatic Society has the ticket launch for We Will Rock You on Saturday from 10 o'clock til 4 at the old Frozen Food Centre Store on Bridge Street Wynd.
A Silent Vigil to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza will be held outside the Cathedral at one o’ clock. During the Vigil they’ll be reading the names of some of the 18 thousand plus children who have been killed in the conflict.
Jennifer Wrigley’s Fiddle Academy meets upstairs at the King Street Halls, and online, on Saturday from 3 til half past five.
Santa will be holding his annual grotto at Stromness Community Centre on Saturday. He will arrive via Stromness Lifeboat at 1pm, and will hold court till half past three.
Stromness Church is holding a Coffee Morning with Sales Table on Saturday from half past ten till half past twelve in the Kirk, with homebakes and a raffle.
The first of the RSPB’s free Warden Winter Walks showcasing the work they do on the reserves to support birds, is on Saturday in the Rendall Moss reserve from ten till half past eleven. To book a space email: Orkney @ rspb dot org dot uk.
Sanday Men’s Shed is open on Saturday afternoon from one o’ clock.
Alcoholics Anonymous meets at six on Saturday in the King Street Halls.
Social and Ceilidh Dancing with David Bowen is on in the St Magnus Centre on Saturday from half past seven - £8 at the door.
The Screen in the Square at the Cromarty Hall is showing the film Four Letters of Love on Saturday starting at quarter to eight.
West Side Cinema, Stromness has a 70 year anniversary screening of the Ealing comedy classic The Lady Killers. The doors of Stromness Town Hall open at seven fifteen.
Onto Sunday when its the Greener Orkney Christmas Beach Clean at Scapa at 2pm, followed by coffee and mince pies and everyone's welcome. If you need a lift call 761 385 or email: greener orkney @ gmail . com.
Orphir Youth Activity Group are running an inter-generational Christmas Craft-ernoon from two till four on Sunday, for festive crafting with the young folk from the Youth Activity Group. There’ll be a Sales tables, raffles and bakes.
A Song and Tune session will be held in the Royal Hotel, Stromness on Sunday from two till five with Stoatfinger and Friends.
Finstown Post Office will be open on Sunday afternoon from 3 o'clock til 5 o'clock. And also on Monday Morning from 8.30 until 12.30 when there will be two post office counters to help meet demand.
The Sunday services in Stromness are at half past ten at St Mary’s and for the Baptist Kirk to meet in the Town Hall. Worship at Stromness church is at quarter past eleven. And Grace Church Orkney meets at half past eleven in Stromness Community Centre.
Across in Hoy there’s worship at Kirkside Longhope at eleven o’ clock. And in Westray the services are in the Church of Scotland and Baptist Kirks at half past eleven, with the Papay service at half past two in St Ann’s.
The service in Orphir and Stenness Kirk is at eleven o’ clock, and Evie, Rendall and Firth Church have a Joint Carol Service in Rendall also at eleven. At Milestone in Dounby the morning service is at eleven and there is a 'Time to Remember' service at 4 o'clock for those feeling loss or bereavement.
Eleven o’ clock is also the time for the services in the East Mainland Kirk and at St Margaret’s in the Hope.
Into Kirkwall and worship in St Olaf’s is at ten o’ clock, while the Salvation Army Services are at half past ten and half past four.
Life Church Orkney meets at the Life Centre at eleven o’ clock.
The services in the Cathedral, the East Kirk and the Peedie Kirk are at quarter past eleven.
Kirkwall Baptist Church also meets at quarter past eleven, and again at seven o’ clock for a Café Church.
The Catholic Church has Mass at half past five on Sunday.
A last shout to folk in Eday to say today is the last day to get meal orders in for the School Christmas Concert and Dinner.
The Dounby Rainbows “Christmas Cards of Kindness” finishes today – anyone wanting to put in a card with a message to be passed on should drop it into one of the boxes at Argos Stromness, Dounby School, Palace Stores, the Relic Cafe Burray, The Trading Post in the Hope, or the Library in Kirkwall.
The Christmas Post boxes for the Dounby BBs are also finishing today – they’re in Asda, Dounby and the Council Office in Kirkwall.
Clan Cancer Support’s Raffle to win an Orkney Strawback Chair will be drawn on Tuesday next week. Tickets are available from Clan’s Charity shop.
The Finstown Christmas Post Boxes are in Baikies, Essons Garage and the Council in Kirkwall till next Friday the 19th. Delivery is for the Finstown area only.
A Singing Workshop and Vocal Masterclass with the Song Shop Trio will run on Saturday the 20th in Stromness Town Hall, with coaching available in all styles including folk, classical, jazz, rock, pop, opera and music theatre – with Aimee Leonard, Sarah Jane Gibbon and Emily Wade. It’s for everyone and all voices, to spend the afternoon exploring voices in a fun way, with group and harmony sessions, and learn the Orkney New Year Song. To book email: Emily turton @ Hotmail dot com or message 07974 178 612.
The John Rae Society’s Silent Auction for an Electric Bike is running at Plaintstones, Stromness, till the 20th.
Jennifer Wrigley and Laurence Wilson will be giving a Hogmanay Concert in the Cathedral on the afternoon of Wednesday 31st December. The performance which will start at half past two is suitable for all ages. No booking is needed and admission is by donation.
Bill McArthur has an exhibition of work showing in the Highland Park Shop on Albert Street.
If you, or someone you know, is affected by cancer, Improving the Cancer Journey can offer support with their non-clinical needs. These needs could be financial, practical, physical, spiritual or emotional. To learn more about the service, or to self-refer, please contact orkdot icj@nhsdot scot or phone 888 084.
Kirkwall Lifeboat Shop is open Mondays to Saturdays from twelve o’ clock till three.
Stromness Museum has an exhibition titled Powered by the People and tells the story of Orkney’s Renewable Energy.
The exhibition Uncovering Crockness and Rinnigill is open daily at St John’s Kirk Walls Heritage – 3 miles from Lyness towards Longhope.
The Odd Animals Rescue Charity Shop on Victoria Street in Kirkwall has a Pet Food Bank for dogs and cats. They’re open Tuesday to Saturday and say don’t be too embarrassed to ask for help.
Clan’s Drop In is open Mondays to Thursdays from ten till four when anyone affected by cancer can call past. One to One appointments and complimentary therapies are also available, book on 87 33 93 or email: orkney @ clancancersupport dot org.
