Homecoming Scotland launches finale celebrations
The Homecoming Scotland 2009 Finale Celebrations launched last week, creating the biggest programme of events ever co-ordinated to mark St Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s National Day.
The spectacular programme has more than 40 events taking place across the country from 26 - 30 November 2009 with Scotland’s music providing the soundtrack, including Homecoming Live – The Final Fling, an evening of fantastic live entertainment with performers such as Deacon Blue, Midge Ure, Idlewild and The View on 28 November.
The festivities will also mark the end of a truly celebratory year for Scotland, with the number and range of events that have been created being testament to how Scotland has pulled together throughout the year to present the vast and successful Homecoming Scotland 2009 events programme.
Featuring gigs, concerts and ceilidhs; fashion shows, fun runs, and fireworks; banquets, Burns and pipe bands; art, installations and exhibitions; parades, parties and debates; the Highlands to Haddington, Dundee to Dumfries and many locations in between, there is plenty of opportunity to join the St Andrew’s Day celebrations as the Homecoming year draws to a close.
Many of the events are free to attend and a large number of ‘Visit for Free’ visitor attractions will be opening their doors, providing a wealth of opportunity for all ages to take part in the biggest ever St Andrew’s Do.
Highlights include:
• St Andrews Eve (29 November) in Dumfries where, in addition to enjoying an extensive music programme, the single women in the town will be using traditional magic to divine if they will find future partners in the forthcoming year. Folklore suggests that if single women who wish to marry ask for Saint Andrew's help on the eve of his feast they will see their future husband in their dreams.
• The UK’s largest series of Son et Lumière from 27 to 30 November in the famous golfing town of St Andrews, which is named after Scotland’s patron saint.
• The Nostalgia Weekend in South Ayrshire, which will play host to a world of memories from the decades of the 1940s and 1950s including music from The Glen Miller Orchestra, a unique Flypast and a history of aviation exhibition at Prestwick Airport. Included in the three day event programme is a 1940s & 50s wedding exhibition and fashion show where families hailing from Troon and couples married in the seaside town are invited to reminisce on their special memories.
• The Illuminated Arts Car Parade on November 28, which will herald the start of the city’s winter festivals with an eccentric parade of light, colour and innovation.
Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism said: “This year, St Andrew’s Day is made even more special as it heralds the closing of a very successful Homecoming Year. November 30 also kicks off our Winter Festival leading on from a remarkably successful summer season and so gives us another chance to showcase Scotland as a great year-round visitor destination. We have an unprecedented programme of events planned around Scotland’s national day and I encourage all Scots everywhere and anyone with an affinity for Scotland to celebrate our rich heritage and vibrant modern culture.”
Marie Christie, Project Director for Homecoming Scotland 2009, said: “All over the country hundreds of individuals and organisations are working hard to make sure that this Homecoming Year presents the most diverse and exciting programme of events ever co-ordinated to mark St Andrew’s Day and the spectacular finale of our unique and successful Homecoming Year”
The programme is supported by an extensive marketing campaign delivered in partnership with VisitScotland and the Scottish Government. Launched today, The Homecoming Scotland Finale Celebrations brochure provides just a glimpse of the huge volume of events taking place across the country. The 16 page A5 guide is available now at VisitScotland Information Centres and at many other key outlets across Scotland and the UK from 30 September.
The programme is also available online at homecomingscotland2009.com both as a downloadable file and searchable database. Visit the website and register for programme updates, competitions and news.