Get your tartan kilts and scarves ready for Bendigo’s annual Scottish festival, one of the largest Scottish celebrations in Australia.
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Event director Chris Earl said the Scots Day Out team expected visitors to flock to Bendigo from all over the country.
“After five years in the warmth of February, it was time to move to better weather and continue building SDO as one of Bendigo’s signature annual events,” Mr Earl said.
“SDO brings our community together, welcoming visitors from all parts of Australia and celebrating the inclusive culture of our city.
“We’ve expanded the music on Ceilidh Corner in 2018 where the amazingly talented all-female Celtic group Drowsy Maggies – one of the most exciting young folk groups in Victoria at the moment - will feature along with Scottish Gaelic Society choir, members of the Celtic Piping Club on small pipes and local performers.
“Scottish expat Andy Howitt has his contemporary take on traditional highland games while Nexus Youth Theatre will add a touch of the Edinburgh Fringe to our SDO celebrations.”
The chieftain for 2018 is Bryan Coghlan and members from various clans will be part of the celebrations.
SDO celebrations start tonight with a free open-air screening at 8pm in Rosalind Park of the most acclaimed flicks selected from the Edinburgh Short Film Festival.
“We’ve moved the Edinburgh Shorts into Rosalind Park this year, the third of our creative partnership with ESFF, and we hope to see a carpet of tartan rugs as people enjoy a wonderful mix of comedy, drama and documentaries over two hours,” Mr Earl said.
SDO is supported by the Regional Centre for Culture Program, a Victorian Government initiative in partnership with the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and the City of Greater Bendigo.
Your guide to Scots Day Out:
- The march of the bands and clans down View Street will commence at 10am. They will be escorted by the Glen Lachlann Estate College of Arms and 2018 SDO chieftain Bryan Coghlan.
- Singing, dancing and live entertainment starts at 11am with the Emu Creek Bush Band, 11.45am The Drowsy Maggies, 12.35 Sing Australia Choir, 1.15pm Emu Creek Bush Band, 2pm The Drowsy Maggies, 2.50pm Scottish Gaelic Society of Victoria Choir and at 3.30pm Celtic Piping Club.
- At 11am There will be traditional Scottish games with a contemporary infusion with Andy Howitt, Braveheart face painting and other live entertainment from the Victorian Highland Dancing Society.
- Whisky, venison, haggis and shortbread tasting all day with The Great Shortbread Challenge and Athol Brose at 1.30pm.
- The SDO finale will commence at 4.30pm with the Kilted Dash followed by the massed bands and highland dancers.
