Invitation to a Big Mini Burns Supper and Hamish the Haggis Show Preview
Heaps of fabulous neeps and tatties donated so kids can enjoy a free traditional Burns supper plus a festival show preview
Children from north-west Dumfries can enjoy a free mini Burns Supper and a sneak preview of a fabulous festival show.
Hamish the Haggis was one of the big hits of last year’s Big Burns Supper festival and he’s back again for 2015 with his special children’s show which also aims to introduce children to traditional Burns Night fare.
The free preview and mini Burns Supper takes place from 5pm to 6pm on Thursday, 22 January, at the Stakeford and Summerville Community Centre on Steele Avenue – and it’s open to children living in the DG2 postcode area.
Let’s Eat Local is supporting the event by donating 45kg of neeps and tatties – all organic and grown by Thomas Elder at Chapel Farm in North Berwick. The Big Lunch campaign is also supporting the event by contributing to the catering and offering support for the wider community through its sister programme Big Lunch Extras.
Graham Main, Big Burns Supper Artistic Director, said: “It’s great to be able to put on a free show complete with the biggest mini Burns Supper you could find to help ensure that today’s children grow up to enjoy the best of Scottish culture.
“We are really looking forward to the event and are tremendously grateful to The Big Lunch and Let’s Eat Local for making this possible.”
The Hamish preview is part of a “festival-within-a-festival” which will see a variety of free pop up shows from the festival taking place around Lochside, Lincluden, Summerhill and Stakeford.
A free minibus is also being organised to get people to and from the festival so they have easy and environmentally-friendly access to the 140 events which are taking place during BBS from 23-31 January.
Let’s Eat Local provides high-quality and locally-grown fruit and veg to encourage a healthy lifestyle, good eating and a sustainable future.
Jane Gray, Manager of Let’s Eat Local, said: “We are delighted to be able to support Big Burns Supper in this way and to get tasty, organic Scottish produce on as many plates as possible.”
The Big Lunch is a BIG Lottery funded campaign from the Eden Project, which aims to build community spirit by encouraging neighbours to come together on the first weekend in June over lunch.
Emily Watts, Country Manager of The Big Lunch in Scotland said: “Our campaign is all about encouraging people to make local connections and by supporting this event we hope to inspire further community led Big Lunches in the summer.
“We also hope some of the residents will join other community activists from Scotland in taking part in our free community capacity building camps later in the year, the Big Lunch Extras programme.”
BBS is a festival of contemporary and traditional culture and a huge public celebration of the birthday of Scotland’s national Bard, Robert Burns, in his beloved town of Dumfries. It is also part of Scotland’s Winter Festivals (a programme of events managed by EventScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government) and attracts thousands of visitors from across the UK and overseas.
The festival is made possible by support from many organisations including 8020 and Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Beacon Event Programme.
Once again BBS has teamed up with other local festivals and promoters to present eclectic club nights which include the Eden Opening Party.
The carnival is supported by the Robertson Trust, Holywood Trust and Awards for All. Year of Food and Drink Scotland will build on the momentum generated by Homecoming Scotland 2014 with a series of exciting events and activities celebrating Scotland’s outstanding natural larder.
This year Big Burns Supper has teamed up with Barnardo’s Scotland as its first ever charity partner. Text BURNS to 70500 to donate £3 to Barnardo’s Scotland.
