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Saturday, 21st November 2009

Festival to mark St Andrew's Day

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Published Date: 24 September 2009
By BRIAN FERGUSON
A FIVE-day festival is to be held across Scotland for the nation's biggest-ever St Andrew's Day celebrations.
More than 40 events, including open-air concerts, fashion shows, street parties, parades and firework displays, are planned over 26-30 November.

The festivities will be promoted around the world to help ensure a successful send-off for the Scott
ish Government's Year of Homecoming.

VisitScotland, EventScotland and local authorities around the country have put together the programme just four years after official St Andrew's Day festivities were staged for the first time.

The likes of Greenock, Alloa, Paisley, Haddington, Kilmarnock, Dumfries, Inverurie, Irvine and Blairgowrie are now all hosting major events, with some £400,000 from the official Homecoming budget being spent on the programme.

Highlights are expected to include a fireworks display over Strathclyde Country Park, an attempt to stage the world's biggest "Virginia Reel" in Alloa, an illuminated car parade through the heart of historic Edinburgh and a ceilidh on the Kirkintilloch canal.

Some of the biggest events include a showcase of Scotland's music at the SECC in Glasgow, a celebration of Gaelic culture at Inverness's Eden Court Theatre, a "winter light night" in Dundee city centre and a sound and light spectacular in St Andrews itself.

A new four-day musical festival is being held in Giffnock, Greenock's Custom House Quay will host an outdoor concert, Paisley will be hosting a "baby ceilidh", and a celebration of Scotland's food will be held across the Borders.





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  • Last Updated: 23 September 2009 9:23 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: St Andrew's Day
 
1

witty nickname,

seattle 24/09/2009 00:36:46
How about a festival to create jobs? I may sound grumpy, but this Homecoming Festival is like Nero playing his fiddle while Rome burns. No-one saw the recession coming (even Alan Greenspan), but it strikes me as grossly inept to splash-out on celebrations in the midst of a severe recession. I support independence, but the SNP is wet behind the ears.

I won't be coming home this year. I was accepted by a Scottish university to take a Masters Degree, but I passed as the job would be dependent on being hired by local authorities in Scotland. With all of the public spending cuts, I'd rather keep my job in Seattle than pay 3,000 quid and then look for a phantom job.

Enjoy the bread and circuses.
2

Brianwci,

24/09/2009 01:02:48
If the SNP Government were concerning itself solely with 'bread and circuses' I would be inclined to agree with you #1 but as most SNP thinking is aimed at higher objectives I must disagree.

But apart from lifting people's spirits Homecoming has brought in a terrific amount of money in tourist revenue, despite the recession.

This will also establish St Andrews Day as an annual event, something to be celebrated and not ignored as the Brit Nats would love.
3

Mercutio,

FALKIRK 24/09/2009 01:33:56
#2 "But apart from lifting people's spirits Homecoming has brought in a terrific amount of money in tourist revenue, despite the recession"
I wont ask you to justify your ridiculous claim about lifting people's spirits, but where are the figures to back up your claim about tourist revenue.
4

Castaway™ ,

24/09/2009 02:23:12
#2 Brianwci,your are right,homecoming has brought in a terrific amount of money in tourist revenue,

#3 Mercutio, but where are the figures to back up your claim about tourist revenue.
Why don't you type - Homecoming Scotland tourist revenue - including both - into your web browser search and find out for yourself !!!
5

McGubbligan,

Oz 24/09/2009 04:32:05
Myself my wife, four sisters and a brother travelled to Scotland from Australia for Homecoming. In seven weeks we met other expatriates from Australia, Canada, USA, and Germany all in Scotland for the best ever holiday.
How sad people like #3 can only whinge and complain about a positive initiative like Homecoming.
I have no doubt that many millions of pounds were generated and many extra jobs were created by the event, and all to Scotland's benefit.



6

Melly,

Dunblane 24/09/2009 09:08:25
1# Witty Nickname. The last thing we need is more local authority workers. Just stay in Seattle, we can get on fine without you.
7

Heather B,

Anstruther 24/09/2009 10:01:07
Glad to hear you had a good time McGubbligan. What is it they used to say "Scotland would be a fine place if it wasn't for the (moany) people!".

8

witty nickname,

seattle 24/09/2009 14:18:00
Yes, the Year of Homecoming created revenue, but what about the year after homecoming? Sure it was "uplifting" for some, but not as uplifting as securing a full-time job. Jobs create quite a bit of revenue as well, for the worker, the community and of course the Government.

I'm from the Cardonald/Penilee area of Glasgow, where nationalists are still seen as a bunch of dreamers with heather sticking out of their ears. The heavy industry mentality persists as generations worked hard and secured their identities from their work. Perhaps this is why I see Scotland as a place for work than as a place for play. For this reason, I'm currently in America.

If Scotland were independent, the best thing to happen would be that the SNP would be on their way out, and replaced by experienced Westminster politicians who are focused on business, not gimmicks.
9

big al megrahi,

outside allahs garden 24/09/2009 15:47:03



O just a wee deoch en doris just a wee yin thats a'
just a deoch en doris afore a gang a wa

 

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