Regular Communications of the Grand Lodge of Scotland are held on the first Thursday in February, the second Thursday in June and the third Thursday in October. The Annual Installation normally takes place on the Thursday immediately preceeding Saint Andrew's Day, 30th November, and is followed by the Festival of Saint Andrew. When Saint Andrew's Day is a Thursday the Installation and Festival take place on that day.
Occasions such as these mean that the building is closed to the public as is the case with some other Masonic meetings and Public Holidays. So far as is possible these dates are provided in the table below.
Tours of the building are normally provided at 10.00 AM and 2.00 PM each weeks day (except January when the Museum is closed for cleaning). Where the building is in use for only part of a day (for example on the afternoon of Thursday, 25th April. There will be a tour of the building in the morning (at 10.00 AM) but no tour in the afternoon of that day. There is no public access to the building on any day when the building status is 'closed'.
Please also note that from approximately mid-July to early September Freemasons' Hall is used as a Festival Fringe Theatre. This means that access to most of the building is restricted whilst the building is converted into several theatres, during the Festival Fringe itself and then during the period when the theatres are dismantled. Although no tours of the building are possible during this period Freemasons, and members of the public, are welcome to visit the Museum (on the second floor - please note there is no disabled access).
2016
Date | Event | Building Status |
Good Friday | Friday, 25 March | Closed |
Easter Monday | Monday, 28 March | Closed |
Spring Bank Holiday | Monday, 18 April | Closed |
Preparatory Meetings of Grand Committee | Wednesday, 27 April | Closed PM |
Grand Committee | Thursday, 28 April | Closed PM |
May Day Holiday | Monday, 2 May | Closed |
Victoria Day | Monday, 23 May | Closed |
Spring Bank Holiday | Monday, 30 May | Closed |
Preparatory Meetings of Grand Lodge | Wednesday, 8 June | Closed PM |
Regular Communication | Thursday, 9 June | Closed |
Building closes for Festival Fringe | Monday, 18 July | Closed |
August Bank Holiday | Monday, 1 August | Closed |
Building re-opens after Festival Fringe | Monday, 29 August | Re-opens |
Preparatory Meetings of Grand Committee | Wednesday, 14 September | Closed PM |
Grand Committee | Thursday, 8 September | Closed PM |
Edinburgh Autumn Holiday | Monday, 19 September | Closed |
Preparatory Meetings of Grand Lodge | Wednesday, 26 October | Closed PM |
Regular Communication | Thursday, 27 October | Closed |
Preparatory Meetings | Wednesday, 23 November | Closed PM |
Installation and Festival of St Andrew | Thursday, 24 November | Closed |
Preparatory Meetings of Grand Committee | Wednesday, 7 December | Closed PM |
Grand Committee | Thursday, 8 December | Closed PM |
Freemason's Hall Closes (in lieu of Christmas Day) | Friday, 24 December | Closed until:- |
Freemasons' Hall reopens | Wednesday, 4th January 2017 | Building reopens |