TICKETS ON SALE FOR THE GATHERING 2009
12 September 2008
Tickets for one of the key events of Homecoming Scotland 2009 are now on sale. The Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh on 25 and 26 July is set to be the greatest international clan gathering and Highland Games ever held in this country.
The Gathering 2009, which celebrates the contribution made by the clans to the culture and history of the nation, is expected to attract more than 40,000 visitors to the capital next summer.
The two-day event in the capital’s Holyrood Park includes the Deuchars World Highland Games Heavy Events Championship, as well as Highland dancing, piping, traditional storytelling and music. There will also be a hill race and fun run, a children’s area, genealogy zone and a clan village. The best of contemporary Scotland will also be on show, with top quality textiles, arts and crafts, and food and drink.
Entry to the Highland Games for adults is £15, with £10 concession tickets for people over 60 years-old, students, children aged between four and 15, while children aged three or under are free.
Family tickets are also available for either one or both days of the Highland Games, which means a family of five can enjoy the events in Holyrood Park for as little as £9.50 each.
As part of The Gathering 2009, there will also be a clan parade of around 5000 people from 140 clans along the Royal Mile culminating in a historic pageant on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade on the evening of 25 July. “Passports” which allow the holder entry to both days of the Highland games, to take part in the parade and watch the pageant are already selling quickly with fewer than 3800 still available.
Lord Sempill, Co-director of The Gathering 2009, said: “We are delighted that already we have visitors coming from 16 different countries across the globe, as well as from the UK. Last month, our passport sales figures were double the normal monthly average which is in part due to flights being made available by the airlines.
“However, we realise that not everyone will want to take part in the clan parade, and so our Highland Games tickets mean you can still enjoy all the events in Holyrood Park. and also watch the parade on the Saturday evening. We look forward to welcoming many more people from both home and overseas for this unique celebration next July.”
Tickets and passports are available from www.thegathering2009.com.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Highland Games ticket prices:
Saturday OR Sunday Saturday AND Sunday
Adult £15 £27
Concession £10 £18
Family: 2 + 2 £45 £85
Family: 2 + 3 £52 £95
Concessions: people 60 years and over, children aged between four and 15, and students with student card. There is no charge for children aged three and under.
“Passports” which give the holder entry to both days of the Highland games in Holyrood Park, the clan parade and historic pageant are on sale now. Gold have already sold out (£110): silver passports are still available at £95 each and bronze at £88. The different categories reflect where the holder will be seated on the Esplanade to watch the pageant.
More than 50% of passports have already been sold (4401) and there are 3768 still available as at 1 September 2008.
Of the passports already sold, 40% have gone to the USA, 27% to the UK, 14% Canada, 12% Australia, 3% New Zealand and 4% to the rest of the world. ROW includes: Hong Kong, Singapore, Africa, South America, and in Europe, Norway, Sweden, Romania, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain and Ireland, and across the UK.
There will be 140 clan and family societies represented in the clan parade, and up to 8000 people taking part.
Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth with a year-long programme of events across the country to mark some of Scotland’s great contributions to the world: golf, whisky, great minds and innovations and Scotland’s rich culture and heritage.
For further information, to request an interview or press pack, please contact
Iona Scott, Media/PR Manager of The Gathering 2009 on
0131 561 1328 or 07764 250268, or iona@thegathering2009.com