The Robert Burns Celtic Festival is a winter festival celebrating Scotland’s National Poet and the Celtic culture in poetry, song, music and dance, in and around the historic buildings of Camperdown, South West Victoria. Festival Chair, Dr John Menzies OAM, is delighted to announce that The Melbourne Welsh Male Choir is returning to Camperdown to perform at the Finale.
Headline acts will also include Luke Plumb & Peter Daffy, The Raglins, MacCrimmin, Fiona Ross, The Corby Family, Elonera, Harpistry, The Reformers (who will present a contemporary show; “In the hope of Something Better”, celebrating Australian Poet Henry Lawson) and Kym Dillon.
Festival favourites
The History Talks, Choirs in Concert, and Festival Finale are just some of the highlights of an exciting weekend that is full of entertainment. The popular Gala Dinner takes place on Friday night. Guests will enjoy a three course dinner, a festival showcase of performances along with the traditional Address tae the Haggis, fine food, good company, Scottish country dancing, a Burns poem and more.
Returning musicians and dancers will delight; Peter Daffy’s Celtic Band, Merran and Peter Moir, The Twa Bards. Along with Tuniversal Music Group, The Camperdown Lakes and Craters Band, The Australian Irish Dance Company, The Geelong Scottish Dance Group, Hugh and Janet Gordon, and the Warrnambool Pipes and Drums.
Market stalls, and music along the beautiful elm lined avenue will delight. The Schools Arts Project will be on display, there will be a shortbread competition, wee stories, and children’s games. A family fun ceilidh and concert will take place on Saturday night.
The James Blair Memorial Solo Piping Competition, organised by the Victorian Pipers Association, will be held, and The Robert Burns Golf Ambrose Cup also returns to the scenic Camperdown Lakes course, with a nip of whisky on the ninth. There will be a gathering at the Robert Burns Statue on Sunday morning where festival favourites, The Twa Bards, will present Burns, songs and poetry.
History talks
It’s worth coming just for the history talks. Our five guest speakers are both eminent and entertaining. Here’s a quick look at the program (full details are on the website):
- 10.30am–11.30am Honorary Associate Professor, John Sherwood: ‘Camperdown’s Explosive Past’
- 11.30am–12.30pm Emeritus Professor Richard Broome: ‘”Who’ll Take a Glove”: Aboriginal Tent Fighters’
- 1.30pm–2.45pm Dr Ruth Pullin and Dr Thomas A. Darragh: ‘Camperdown and Kangatong: von Guérard’s Berlin Letters and What They Reveal’
- 2.45pm–3.45pm Robert McLaren: ‘The Rev. Kay: Front Row Seat to a Changing World from 1850 to 1880′ This story in time, unearths a naval hero, links to the British Royal Family, a life in rural Scotland, scandals, the birth of Italy, a messy Victorian court case and a legacy that continues today.
Tickets are now on sale for the Robert Burns Celtic Festival, 27-29 June 2025. Full details at: https://camperdownburnsfestival.com.au or www.trybooking.com/CXRJT
*Weekend Tickets from 1st May – 14th June *$120.00 *Weekend Tickets from 15 June – 27th June *$180.00 *Excludes Gala Dinner. Gala Dinner $85.00 per person, bookings are essential.