Barn Bash 2025: Bigger and Better

A night of cowboy hats, denim jeans, and a mechanical bull

Saturday 1 February saw the return of a St Andrews event staple, Barn Bash. Walking down South Street one might’ve thought that they had been teleported to the Wild West, as a flurry of students dressed in attire befitting of an old-time saloon descended upon Blackfriars Chapel, awaiting their transportation to Falside Mill for an afternoon of drinking, dancing, and living it up like John Wayne.

Leading up to the event, wristband collection began on Wednesday, where goody bags, containing a peculiar-looking party recovery pill, were handed out. Indeed, the capsule smelled like a sewer and tasted even worse but served as a fun albeit strange way to start the occasion. 

Leading up to the main event was ironically its lead-up event: Before We Bash, held at The Vic on Friday 31 January and offered non-stop music, alongside four different DJs. It was loud, vivacious, and the ideal place for students to forget about the worries of their classes and enter the non-stop carousing of Barn Bash weekend.

Despite, I expect, numerous hangovers the following morning, students dutifully lined up to board the buses to Falside Mill. Entering the venue, which was reminiscent of a barn in design, one was confronted with a buzzing energy that permeated the four main areas — an entrance with a bar, the main dance floor, and two outdoor spaces — one with the infamous mechanical bull, and one with food offerings: churros, tacos, and burgers.

With a live band, the dance floor offered a selection of country and pop hits, drawing everyone in to dance and let loose throughout the afternoon, including an energetic but chaotic ceilidh. However, for many people, the real attraction was just outside as a large queue was forming for a chance to ride the legendary bucking beast. Waiting in line was almost as exciting as riding the creature itself as one watched other brave students try (and mostly fail) to hold on to the menacing machine. Every success was met with cheering from the crowd of spectators, and every fall was met with winces and laughs.

Yet Scottish weather is a beast nobody can defeat, and as the day grew colder and darker, more and more students migrated from the outdoor area to the dance floor. This was met by a transition from country twang to pop hits and a corresponding increase in manic drunk dancing and the belting out of lyrics to Katy Perry songs.

At 7pm, everyone hurriedly rushed outside for the main surprise of the night — the event’s first-ever firework show. Lasting around two minutes, it was charmingly quaint and succeeded in uniting everyone in a moment of collective awe. Upon returning to the dancefloor, DJ replaced the live band and continued for the rest of the evening. 

As the Bash drew to a close, buses arrived to carry attendees home. While bus arrangements to the action were punctual and efficient — a strong improvement since last year — return transport was slightly disorganised, leaving an otherwise outstanding event with a somewhat frustrating conclusion. Admittedly, this was as much a result of the inebriated attendees as it was of the bus schedule.

Barn Bash is not just an occasion; it serves as a way to bring the St Andrews community together in a uniquely Texan-inspired way. As the first major event of the Candlemas semester, it injects life into the town. The evening before the event, I met with the Barn Bash Director Frederick Strange. He explained the goals of Barn Bash as “uniting the town” whilst “trying to make a weekend of experiences for those keen for a good time.” Additionally, the proceeds of Barn Bash go towards Help for Heroes, a charity organisation which supports British veterans. The organisers maintain a long-standing relationship with the cause, having previously raised over £20,000 for the charity and meeting with veterans last semester.

Like most major events at St Andrews, the cost of attendance is significant, with tickets priced at £45-55 — a £5 increase from last year — plus an additional £8 entry fee for Friday night at the Vic. This may lead some to question whether the event is worth the money. However, with proceeds going to charity and the event delivering non-stop excitement, Barn Bash proves itself to be worth every pound. As Strange explained, the committee “tried to make it bigger and better than ever before.” At this, they certainly succeeded.

Photo by Alden Arnold