Lining up for a Big Family Gathering
The Gathering 2009 has unveiled its world-class line up and programme for the Highland games and Scottish festival taking place in Holyrood Park on 25 and 26 July, in what will be the family gathering of the year.
International best-selling authors Alexander McCall Smith and Diana Gabaldon will be
joining the big names in contemporary Scottish culture performing over the weekend, such as musicians Dougie MacLean, Capercaillie and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
The Gathering 2009 is a celebration of Scottish culture, and the feast of events range from the Deuchars World Highland Games Heavy Events Championship, piping, Highland dancing and clan village, to live music, whisky tastings, food and crafts fairs, children’s activities, and a large genealogy area.
Alexander McCall Smith, whose works include the Scotland Street series, and Diana Gabaldon, the American creator of the Outlander series of historical novels about an 18th century Highlander Jamie Fraser are just two of a host of writers, historians and genealogists who will be speaking in the Scotland Lives auditorium.
Diana Gabaldon said: "I'm thrilled to have been invited to take part in what promises to be a remarkable event. As Lord Sempill graciously said when inviting me, and mentioning Alexander McCall Smith's participation, ‘Well, this is very appropriate; we'll have an American who writes about Scotland, and a Scotsman who writes about Africa!’ It is indeed appropriate to the very expansive and hospitable spirit of the Scots, who have historically welcomed all visitors to cross their doorsteps and I’m sure everyone will find a warm welcome and have a wonderful time in Edinburgh."
The Gathering 2009 will cover the entire area of Holyrood Park behind Holyrood Palace and involve hundreds of participants, including 125 clan and family associations, more than 350 Highland dancers, and 60 crafts and food producers, all housed within 200 individual marquees covering almost 8000 square metres. Thousands of visitors from more than 34 countries have already secured their tickets.
Director of The Gathering 2009, Lord Sempill said: “This is not just a gathering of clans from across the world, this is a celebration of our culture that families from across Scotland can enjoy too, and this is reflected in the different activities and events in Holyrood Park which will appeal to all ages.”
Marie Christie, Project Director Homecoming Scotland 2009, added: “The Gathering is expected to be one of the highlights of our Homecoming 2009 events programme, which features more than 300 events across the country this year. The event organisers have done a fantastic job of engaging Scots worldwide, many thousands of whom will be joining the Homecoming 2009 celebrations.”
On the Saturday evening of The Gathering 2009, there will also be a clan parade of around 6000 people along the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle Esplanade for the world premiere of a specially-written pageant entitled Aisling’s Children; Tales of the Homecoming.
Tickets are available from
www.thegathering2009.com
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Media enquiries
Iona Scott, The Gathering 2009, on 0131 561 1328, 07764 250268, or
iona@thegathering2009.com
The Gathering 2009 tickets
One-day tickets for the Highland Games and Scottish festival cost £15 for adults, £10 for concessions, under fours are free, available from
www.thegathering2009.com or visitor information centres in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Airport, Dunfermline, Perth, St Andrews, and Aberdeen. Tickets are also available from the box office on site in Holyrood Park from Saturday 18 July.
Discounted two-day, family, and all-inclusive tickets - The Gathering 2009 Passports, which give the holder entry to both days of games, a place in the clan parade and a seat for the pageant costing £88 and £95 – are also available from
www.thegathering2009.com
Homecoming Scotland 2009
1. Homecoming Scotland 2009 aims to engage Scots at home as well as motivate people of Scottish descent and those who simply love Scotland, to take part in an inspirational celebration of our culture, heritage and some of the many great contributions Scotland has given to the world.
2. 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, with the programme's design guided by Scotland's unique position as the home of Burns himself, Golf, Whisky, Great Minds and Innovations, and Scotland’s culture and heritage which lives on at home and through Scotland’s global family.
3. The budget for Homecoming is £5 5million and the target is for an 8 to 1 return on investment i.e. £44 million revenue additionality.
4. Homecoming Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government and is managed by EventScotland the national events agency in partnership with VisitScotland, the country’s national tourism agency. Homecoming is part financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.
5. For more information on Homecoming Scotland please visit: www.homecomingscotland2009.com