Saturday 10 May 2026: a charity fun night at Macmerry Bowling Club. Jenna Cockburn’s Facebook post the next morning says it all — it went exactly as planned. “Still laughing about last night” is probably the best possible thing you can read the morning after an event.
Here’s how the night ran.
How the Macmerry Charity Fun Night Ran
A charity fun night packs several formats into one evening. In practice, Macmerry was a good example of why that variety matters. Music bingo kicked things off. Then came the quiz rounds, followed by horse racing with the electronic tote in full swing. Finally, the auction race closed out the night. Crucially, each activity brings different people to life. Together they keep the energy up from start to finish — something a single format simply can’t do.
The big moment of the night came late. Jenna’s team — Isla’s Jamboree — were sitting in 7th place heading into the final quiz round. Then their horse, Dean’s Donkey, won the auction race. And somehow, they came from 7th to win the whole quiz. That kind of turn deserves its own sentence.
“What a brilliant Fun Night from start to finish — music bingo, quiz chaos, horse racing drama, loads of laughs and honestly just the best atmosphere all night. Huge credit to James (Premier Disco) for putting on such a fun Fun Night. In particular, it was brilliant seeing the big screen in action too. Dean’s Donkey won the auction race. Then Isla’s Jamboree went from 7th place in the quiz to WINNING THE WHOLE THING. Honestly nights like this are what it’s all about. Great people, great laughs and memories you’ll be talking about for ages.”
Jenna Cockburn, Macmerry Bowling Club, May 2026
What Made This Night Work
A few things in Jenna’s account are worth noting for anyone planning a similar event.
The big screen made a difference. Jenna specifically mentions it — and it always does. With races on a big screen, live commentary and the tote showing odds, the whole room watches together. It’s the difference between an event and a night in front of a laptop.
In addition, the auction race is always the highlight. It consistently creates the biggest moment of the night. By that point everyone’s invested. The competitive edge is sharp, and the drama of a live race with real stakes is hard to replicate. Dean’s Donkey winning. Isla’s Jamboree going from 7th to 1st. That’s the kind of story shared on social media the next morning.
Overall, the variety kept everyone engaged. Music bingo draws in people who aren’t particularly interested in horse racing. The quiz creates table-level competition that builds quietly across the evening. The games give everyone another shot if they’ve had a quiet night on the betting. As a result, the whole room stays part of the event rather than a section of it.
About Macmerry Bowling Club
Macmerry is a small village in East Lothian, just east of Tranent. As a result, it’s an area we know well from previous events. The bowling club is a great fit for a charity fun night. It’s a proper community venue and the right size for this format. The crowd comes ready to have a good time. Events like this are part of what keeps places like Macmerry Bowling Club going. For guidance on planning your own fundraising event, the Institute of Fundraising has practical resources worth reading.
Thinking About a Charity Fun Night?
Planning a fundraiser for your club, school or community group? A charity fun night is worth a serious look. In short, it covers more ground than a standard race night. Furthermore, the format travels well. We’ve run events across Edinburgh, East Lothian, Fife, Midlothian and Falkirk. Venues include bowling clubs, golf clubs, village halls and church halls.
For full details on what’s included and how it all works, see the Charity Fun Night page. Or if you’d rather just have a conversation about your event, get in touch here — we’ll come back to you quickly with availability and a quote.
If it’s a straight race night you’re after, the Race Night hire page has everything you need on that too.
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