The Melbourne Tartan Festival Ceilidh Dance with music by the Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers at Collingwood Town Hall on Friday 27th June is the opening event of this year’s Festival. The ceilidh’s loyal following is attracted by the high energy dance style reminiscent of many a Scottish village hall.
On Sunday 29 June is the annual Kirkin’ ‘O The Tartan service at The Scots’ Church, Melbourne. The Parade of Clans will be piped into the church, with each Clan announced and welcomed in both Scottish Gaelic and English. To register your Clan’s participation, go to: www.trybooking.com/CYLYX.
The Melbourne Tartan Day Parade on Collins Street on Sunday 6th July is a Festival highlight, gaining in stature and recognition as it enters its 5th year. This is a truly stirring and colourful spectacle, as the sound of the massed pipe band echoes across the city, with more than 200 pipers, drummers, dancers and clan representatives in traditional dress parade down Collins Street, Melbourne.
The Parade is followed by a massed Highland Fling recital in the forecourt of the Westin Hotel. Highland dancing and piping displays will be on the terrace and balconies of the Old Treasury Building from 11.30am with pop-up events around the city. A CBD Scottish Connection guided walk with cultural historian, curator and tour leader Kenneth Park will commence at 10.00am – bookings essential.
Festival highlights
Melbourne Tartan Festival Gala Dinner and Concert at Melbourne Town Hall is on Saturday 19th July. This year’s distinguished Guest of Honour is Member of the Scottish Parliament, Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture. Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson. Guest Speaker is The Honourable Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nicholas Reece.
Guests will be piped in on arrival to enjoy drinks in the Town Hall foyer before entering the glittering Main Hall for a traditional Address to the Haggis, sumptuous gourmet meal accompanied by fine wines and entertained with a mix of traditional and contemporary concert style entertainment with a few surprise guest artists. This will be a night to remember as you dance the night out to internationally acclaimed Celtic rock band Claymore.
During the month long Festival there will be concerts and piping recitals featuring Graeme McColgan ‘The Scotsman’ with ‘Highland Harmonies from Distant Shores’, the Victorian Pipers Association Solo Piping Championships, The Victorian Scottish Dancing Members Association 64th Australian Commonwealth Championships, online and in person genealogy and history lectures, whisky tasting, Burns Suppers, poetry in the park and pub and much more throughout the month of July.
Visit the Melbourne Tartan Festival website for the full program and booking links, with more events being added weekly, at: www.melbournetartanfestival.com.au. Also visit and follow the Festival Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MelbourneTartanFestival