For such a small town, St Andrews has a remarkable capacity to market a large proportion of its events at incredibly high prices. Don’t get me wrong, balls are great, but if you’re looking for something enjoyable to do without waving goodbye to a £50 note, you might find yourself in a bit of a bind. Never fear, for there are in fact events that won’t drain your bank account, and might even be equally as fun as those held in Kinkell Byre. In this article, I have collated some of my ideas below for things to do to keep you busy, without giving up dinner for the next two weeks.
Music
First up, we have Jazz Night. While this isn’t exactly an upcoming event seeing as it happens every week, I still think it’s worth a mention. Jazz Night is on from 9pm every Thursday at Main Bar in the Union. It’s free, and offers a great opportunity to listen to some glorious tunes whilst chatting with your friends. It’s the perfect: ‘I want to go out, but I don’t want to go out out’ evening.
Markets
On Queen’s Terrace, the Rose and Thistle Markets will be held in St Andrews on Saturday 14th May. The markets pop up monthly in St Andrews, featuring the best local makers, bakers, and artists of the community. A portion of the proceeds goes to charity, and you’ll additionally be supporting independent businesses – so why not go along? You’re perfectly free to browse without buying – that is if you can resist the chocolate stall!
If you can’t wait until May, every Saturday there is a small market selling knick-knacks such as ornaments and books on the square by the Cottage Kitchen (Logies Lane) . If you don’t have weekend plans but fancy taking yourself on a walk, I recommend stopping by and having a look!
Art
If you fancy trying your hand at something a little different, I present to you: Life Drawing. The Art Society holds Life Drawing every Tuesday, usually at 7pm or 7:30pm. It costs £3 for members and £4 for non-members. With Life Drawing, you have the opportunity to try something new while not breaking your bank. Why not give it a go?
Not free Tuesdays? No worries, that’s not your only opportunity to bring out your inner Picasso. On Thursdays, Capture Collective holds Drink & Draw sessions, often collaborating with other societies. It’s exactly as it sounds; you drink as you draw. You only pay £3 at door, all materials are provided and you get 15% off drinks. Again, this sounds like the perfect chance to get creative, and have a new painting to hang up on your wall once you get home!
Sport
I can’t lie and pretend I’m one the sportiest people at St Andrews, but I definitely want to suggest you take part in the 2022 Colour Run, held on April 16th. Organised by Saints Sport, the Colour Run is not only open to everyone and, but it will also have a route with activities along the way, for instance an obstacle course. You can also look forward to a bake sale and a photo booth. The suggested donation for Saints Sport’s International Volunteering Programme is only £3. All you need to do is sign up here! (If you make a last minute decision to join, don’t worry, the entries will be open on the day too.)
If you feel like getting your boogie on, the University of St Andrews Dance Club will be collaborating with St Can-Drews Foodbank Collection on 11th April, holding a Danceathon at the Union from 10am to 5pm! Enter with a donation on of £4, which will support local food banks. Raising money for charity whilst having a dance party? Sounds good to me!
I hope some of these ideas offer a little inspiration on how to enjoy a day or an evening in St Andrews without breaking the bank. There is always something on, sometimes it just requires a little digging on Facebook to find next fun event!