WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN 2007!

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!

9:00 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 2007!

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!

New for 2007, will be the demonstration of a new sport to the Gathering - Scottish Backhold Wrestling. Although very popular in Europe, this event is rarely seen in North America. As the name suggests the wrestlers grip each other around the waist at the back, the right hand goes under the opponent's left arm and the chin rests on the opposite right shoulder. When the referee is sure that both wrestlers have taken a firm grip, he shouts "hold" and the bout starts. Should either wrestler break his hold or touch the ground with any part of his body except his feet - he loses. There is no ground work and bouts are usually best of five falls. ...

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. It all starts at 9:00 AM with the Junior Heavyweights Class (20 years of age and under). The Professional Heavyweights take the field at 10:00 AM and continue throughout most of the day. 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 2006 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.

Throwing alongside the Pros are the Amateur Athletes (over 20 years of age) including some graduates from our Athletics Workshop on Friday. Experience is gained and techniques are improved by rubbing shoulders with the pros throughout the day. There's even an opportunity for the "wee-ones" to get involved! Within a supervised and non-competitive environment, children of all ages are invited to participate in a scaled-down version of these traditional events at the Lightweight Athletics at 12:30 PM.

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 75 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"!

New for 2007, is the Gathering's first annual Fly Casting Competition. Pre-registered competitors will be given the opportunity to test their skills in both "Single-Handed Fly Accuracy and Distance Casting events. To ensure fairness, all competitors will use the exact same fly rod, reel, line and casting fly provided by the organizers. Participants may register in either the Youth Division (14 years and under) or the Open Adult Division (15 years and over). This venue is guaranteed to be a real crowd pleaser. Why not register early and try your luck on the field!

Take some time, and stroll among the many Cultural booths and Clan tents at this year's Gathering of the Scots festival. Stop for a chat and see displays by such organizations as The New Brunswick Scottish Cultural Association, The Scotch Colony Heritage Foundation, and The New Brunswick Provincial Archives to name a few.

Don't forget to visit the Gathering of the Scots Souvenir & Information Tent during you visit to the festival this year. Our volunteers will assist you in selecting the perfect festival clothing and/or keepsakes to help remember your weekend at the Gathering!

Have you ever dreamed of a time when knights fought in battle, great halls were lit by candlelight and jesters entertained crowds? Why not stop in at the Society for Creative Anachronism display! With displays of ancient weaponry and medieval clothing, members of the Shire of Lyndhaven will assist you discovering what life was really like in medieval Europe. You might even get the chance to see a real battle demonstration or the firing of an ancient trebuchet!

 

From Tartans and Pewter to Clan crested clothing, it can all be found at the Celtic Retail Kiosks at this year's Gathering! Have your family crest put to clothing; choose from colorful displays of authentic Scottish and Irish tartans or select just the right piece of Celtic jewelry or glassware. Whatever your preference, it's offered at this year's Gathering! And stop into MacIntosh Weaving to see just how real tartan is made!

Don't forget to bring those lawn chairs! While you're at the Gathering this year, take some time to sit back and enjoy the huge variety offered at the Festival's Main Stage throughout the day. Dozens of Celtic Music and Highland Dance performers from around the Province and the State and Maine will be scheduled! From solo bagpipe and drumming demonstrations to Fiddlers, Celtic bands and beautiful singers, it's all at the Gathering 2007!

 

A very popular venue at each Gathering of the Scots is our Wee Ones - Children's Activities Tent. Student volunteers from our own Southern Victoria High School host a variety of children's activities with a Celtic theme for the younger generation of festival visitors.

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!

Site:TBA

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!

Among the great Ceilidh entertainers will be the ECMA Nominee, Bottoms Up. A Maritime/Celtic group from Fredericton, they are sure to get your feet tapping.