WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN 2008!

Bring your RVs, tents and campers and stay with us for the weekend! Nestled along the picturesque Saint John River, the R.E. Baird Memorial Campground has 42 excellent RV and camping sites within 200 feet on the festival grounds! Locate amenities include indoor showers, outdoor swimming pool, miniature golf, indoor games room, the famous Bogan Restaurant & Lounge, playground, and volleyball court.

Reserve your campsite at 506-273-3080 or e-mail Charlene at bairdc@nb.sympatico.ca,

7-10 AM

Highlanders Breakfast

The Bogan Restaurant, Perth-Andover

Prepare for a busy day at the Gathering by stopping into the Bogan Restaurant & Lounge (adjacent to the festival grounds) for our "Highlanders Breakfast".

Excellent Home cooking by Carol Andersen and her staff of "Baird House" combined with the famous Bogan hospitality.

Enjoy the sounds of a "lone piper" over breakfast, renew acquaintances with old friends, and meet some of our Scottish Heavyweight Athletes!

8:30 AM

Gates Open

Festival Grounds

Let the games begin! A full day of the "Ultimate Celtic Experience" awaits visitors to the Gathering of the Scots in 2008! Convenient on-site parking affords our visitors easy access to the festival.

Stroll the grounds throughout the day and sample some of the food and drinks offered at this year's gathering including Haggis Pups, Scottish Pies, world-famous Corn Fritters and even cold Picaroons on tap!

9:00 AM

Amateur Scottish Heavyweights

Athletes Venue

All day long, cheer on your favorite athletes at the Scottish Heavy Athletic Events venue! See some of the best compete in such events as the stone putt, tossing 28lb. and 56 lb. weights for distance, the 16lb. and 22 lb. hammers for distance and the ever popular caber toss. As well competitors will attempt the 56 lb. weight for height, the sheaf toss and finally a real crowd pleaser - the farmer's walk.

Amateurs Male (including some graduates from our Athletics Workshop on Friday) will begin the day’s competition at 9:00 AM while the Open/Pro Heavyweights take the field at 9:30 AM and continue throughout most of the day.

9:30 AM

Open/Pro Scottish Heavyweights

Athletes Venue

Many of the best in the sport travel to the Gathering of the Scots from the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario and the USA each year to get an early start on their season.

In 2007 alone, five of Canada's top ten competitors made the trip to Perth-Andover including Canadian Champion Greg Hadley and 2-time World Masters Champion Dirk Bishop.

12:00 PM

Official Opening Ceremonies

Festival Main Stage

Massed pipe bands will be front and center at the official opening ceremonies (12 noon). Over 80 bagpipers and drummers will march in to officially open the festival.

 

Would you like to march along side this massive display of pipes and drums? Does your family's history show a Clan Crest or Badge? If so then come and march in the Gathering's Clan Parade. With an impressive display of clan banners and tartans, local descendants of traditional Celtic Clans will parade onto festival grounds where their family crest will be displayed throughout the day.

Among the many dignitaries attending, our community's mayor Karen Titus will welcome visitors to Perth-Andover and the Gathering.

And to follow a tradition that has existed every year, local bagpipe sensation Kate LaFrance will step out of massed band formation to perform a very special solo she composed 6 years ago entitled "Let the Games Begin"!

 

5:30 PM

Official Closing Cermonies

Festival Main Stage

Don't leave too early! Stick around for the massive Massed Bands finale and find out at the Closing Ceremonies who took top honors at the different Heavyweight competitions on the day and learn who our 2007 Champion will be!

9:00 PM

Huge Scottish Ceilidh!

Perth-Andover Legion

It's not all over yet! With the closing of activities at the festival grounds, the fun's just getting started - come to the Ceilidh for lots more entertainment and fun! "Ceilidh" is the Gealic word used for "a traditional Celtic party" - and that's just what we have planned! Meet some of the Heavyweight Athletes you watched all day at the festival, get up-close and personal with the Highland Dancers, roar to the sounds of pipes and drums. As is tradition, several entertainers will take the stage throughout the evening offering a wide assortment of "Celtic flair" that leaves absolutely no one disappointed!