Dunedin was abuzz with Robert Burns enthusiasm last night, continuing a centuries-old tradition of celebrating the bard's birthday.
The annual Burns Night Dinner at Toitu Otago Settlers Museum began with a piping performance from Dunedin Burns Club official piper Ray Goodfellow.
Museum curator Sean Brosnahan, the night's master of ceremonies, said Dunedin had a "venerable tradition'' of celebrating Burns.
He then introduced the winners of the Robbie Rocks Dunedin competition which took place in the Octagon on Sunday.
Mr Brosnahan said the competition - to musically reimagine one of Burns's creations - was just one of the ways Dunedin had "re-animated an appreciation for Burns and Scottish heritage''.
The first band to play was Strangs, Strings and Company, winner of the youth section award at Sunday's competition.
Following their performance of Ae Fond Kiss, the Logan Park High School pupils were awarded a $400 prize.
The rest of the night was peppered with performances, speeches, and tributes, including toasts from University of Otago dean of law Prof Mark Henaghan and Dunedin barrister Anne Stevens on the theme of the night: Burns and the Law.
The Dunedin Public Library had its own celebration of Burns' birthday last night, with the Robert Burns poetry competition prizegiving.
