A week-long festival of fun is set to offer a summer holiday of creative activity for the people of Irvine Bay.

North Ayrshire Council and Irvine Bay Regeneration Company are getting together to organise Big on the Beach from August 2nd till 6th. The event, at South Beach in Ardrossan, follows on from the success of the festival last year.

Wednesday, August 4th, is National Play Day and a separate programme of activity will be happening at the beach from noon till 4pm.

The event, which is being funded by the regeneration company, is aimed at families and takes place each day from noon till 5pm. On the final day, Friday August 6th, the event finale is a beach party which runs until 8.30pm.

Activities being run by the council and Young Scot will include a gyroscope, film, dance and music workshops, archery, beach games, volleyball, inflatables, wildlife classes, model boat building with the Scottish Maritime Museum, healthchecks, children’s entertainers, and traditional pony rides. Each day 3TFM, a daily roadshow with local DJs and music from 1960s, will be hosted from the award winning beach ut designed by St Matthew's Academy Standard Grade Art & Design student Scott Mitchell.

Irvine Bay Chief Executive Patrick Wiggins said: “The event has a fantastic range of activities, and we are delighted to be funding it. Regeneration is about more than improving the physical infrastructure of an area, it is about engaging with and enthusing the people who live in that area.

“The event promotes Irvine Bay as a fantastic area in which to live and to play, and we are happy to see so many young people enjoying themselves.

“Our fantastic coastline is one of our greatest assets, and this emphasises that not only to our own population but also to the day-visitor and short-break markets.”

Programme of activities

Daily (except Wednesday, see below)

• Big Beach Bioblitz  : Join us to celebrate the international year of biodiversity as we catch, count and conserve our local wildlife! Meet the experts daily as they highlight the wonders that live in our local area, from the very large to the very small, to the weird and wonderful. We also want your pictures, photos and poems of your favourite places in and around Irvine Bay - with a prize for the best on Friday!
• Film & photography workshops with experienced staff : learn how to take good photos and make your own films
• 3TFM : a daily roadshow with local DJs and music from 1960s, all hosted from the award winning beach hut, designed by St Matthew's Academy Standard Grade Art & Design student Scott Mitchell
• Climbing wall : Walk Rock offer an opportunity to experience this thrilling sport. There may be some height restrictions. Parental consent forms will be available at the event
• MYC : the Mobile Youth Centre will be onsite each day, full of information, inspiration and gaming for young people
• Maritime Museum : model boat building for children, then sail the boats onsite in our purpose-built pond.  There will also be some raft building on the beach. Eat your heart out Lost!  Model boat displays will also be ongoing, courtesy of Irvine Model Boat Club
• Beach volleyball : join in beach volleyball, led by Active Schools Co-ordinators - a chance to get some exercise and have fun at the same time!
• Giant Games : Children's Outreach Services will have a selection of games on hand every day.  Have a go at giant jenga, hoop-a-peg, stepping stones, body knots and other beach games, such as swingball!
• Seven seater biker : yes, a 7-seater bike - can you try to co-ordinate your friends into a team to make it work? Have a conference bike ride, hilarious fun for everyone - come and have a go!
• Giant inflatables : giant slide, surf simulator, laser quest, assault course, gyroscope, giant suits and space hoppers
• K:A Leisure : Activator Bus health checks, giant Wii, assault course and portable soccer stadium every day onsite - with club golf, pre-school activities and beach soccer.  Something for everyone!
• Beach fun : sandcastles, sand sculptures, sandman building - various beach activities each day. Weather dependent.

Monday only

• Bioblitz : Green day - join North Ayrshire's Ranger Service and the Scottish Wildlife Trust as they introduce you to the biodiversity of nature. They have a fantastic collection of natural objects for you to look at and handle. Ask yourself: why is this bird's beak shaped like this?; what animal has long pointed teeth?; what kind of snail appears in many different colours and patterns? Never be afraid to ask the rangers!
• Children's Outreach Services are bringing along the giant zorb ball for those who want some physical fun and banner painting for those creative minded weans!
• K:A Leisure offer dance taster sessions - for all ages on demand throughout the day
• NAC Library Services repeat  their book sale. A great success last year, and a good opportunity to pick up some holiday reading at a fraction of the original price
• Ayr Equestrian Centre offer pony rides on the beach - what could be more reminiscent of holidays gone by than riding along on a pony before having an ice cream on the beach!
• Young Scot present their promotional tent - call in for info. and find out more!
• Beauty tasters available with qualified beauty technicians Wilma and Vivian. A lovely way to relax and feel pampered - for a wee while!
• Mega beasts from Zoolab will be in attendance - with their trained keepers obviously!  Come and have a hands-on experience - you'll never get this close again....

Tuesday only

• Uncle Billy entertains the wee ones with his puppet and magic show
• Children's Outreach Services offer an opportunity to make puppets and produce your own theatre fun
• Aqua walkers : a chance to walk on the sea (honestly!).  Weather permitting these giant balls of air allow you to walk on water!
• Bioblitz : Bug Day - join Buglife and the BTCV team as they highlight the small things that make a difference to all our lives, from the beautiful to the outright weird. You'll leave with a huge awareness of the life of bugs!
• K:A Leisure repeat their dance workshop from Monday
• Wilma and Vivian beautify the masses as on Monday
• Mega Beasts offer another hands-on session
• Pony rides available

Wednesday, National Play Day, 12noon til 4pm

Play activities for children 0-12 yrs, hosted by North Ayrshire Council's Children's Outreach Services, including:

• Towdabout and Tadpull mobile playgrounds
• Parent & Pre-5 play Zone
• Art & craft
• Prize competitions & giveaways
• Costume characters
• Zorb nall
• Messy play
• Magician
• Go-kart racing
• Inflatables
• Steeetdance
• Sports Zone
• Balloon modelling workshop
• Climbing wall
• 7-seater bike
• Waterslides

Thursday only

• Bilblitz : Bird Day - join the RSPB for a wide range of bird-related activities. You will really appreciate the wonder and value of birds and why the love of birds has created an organisation of over a million people in the UK to protect them.
• Following their great popularity at Big on the Beach last year, dance workshops with Y-Dance!
• K:A Leisure hold a walking treasure hunt, and the Activator Bus offers short massage sessions
• Children's Outreach Services help children to make flappy fish and also run cheek/hand painting sessions
• The Street Nurses offer advice on alcohol awareness, sexual health as well as other health aspects
• Loch Lomond Aquarium bring along a petting pool with lots of hands-on creatures to see and touch
• Aqua walkers will be making their second outing of the week at Big on the Beach

Friday only

• Bioblitz : Beach Day - plenty of activities to connect us back to the coast. Find out what lies in rockpools, our sandy beaches and the dunes beyond. Come and see the creatures you rarely get a chance to see at the Bioblitz tent, you'll not believe how big the life is on the beach!
• Children's Outreach Services fun sessions for young children - Tiddlers on the Beach!
• Street Nurses return for their second visit of the week
• National Young Scot are down with lots of information and goodies for all in the 12-25 year age range!
• Loch Lomond Aquarium back with more beasties from the sea
• Y-dance are back!
• K:A Leisure once again hold a walking treasure hunt
• On Friday evening it's the Beach Party!  A showcase for local bands who'll be playing live music whilst everyone dances around - oh....and there's a foam cannon too!