Festival News

Family and Children’s Activities

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PRESS RELEASE FINAL JUNE 23 “The Robert Burns Festival is happening this weekend, and the committee is ready to Welcome locals and visitors to our town.” Dr John Menzies OAM said. A full festival program has been planned that offers a wide selection of events over the weekend. There are Family and Children’s activities, bring the Children down to the Avenue on Saturday to see Scottish Highland cows in the Avenue, check out the wonderful art works on display in the local shops and don’t miss the Children’s event happening in the Library with Anne Daffy, John, Roni, Cait and Nell, Stories, Fun, Music and Instrument making from recycled materials. A Fun Family Celildh (Bush Dance) especially for mum’s, dads, kids and even grandparents from 6.30 pm – 7.50 pm is happening at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night with the School Children’s Art Prizes being awarded.  “The Corby Family Band along with members from …

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RBCF2025 History Talks… we invite locals, visitors and history buffs

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History Talks Return for Robert Burns Celtic Festival 2025Saturday 28 June | Killara Centre, Camperdown The much-loved History Talks return to the Robert Burns Celtic Festival 2025, hosted by the Camperdown & District Historical Society at the Killara Centre. This year’s program brings together four engaging sessions that explore how people have experienced, interpreted and responded to this part of Victoria — through science, survival, art and belief. “You don’t need a kilt to enjoy these talks,” says Historical Society President, Lyle Tune. “Just a curiosity for the stories and people that have contributed to the cultural, environmental and historical fabric of this region.” Program Highlights: The talks are included with a Robert Burns Festival weekend ticket or available separately for $25. The venue is the Killara Centre, beside Camperdown Library, with easy access and winter-warm comfort. $25 covers all 4 talks. Door sales available, pre purchase preferred. “We invite locals, visitors and history buffs …

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RBCF2025 Stories, Music, Fun and Making…

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“The 2025 Robert Burns Celtic Festival program includes some great opportunities for local folk and visitors to Camperdown” festival chairman Dr. John Menzies OAM said. Stories, Music, Fun and Making with Anne Daffy and Co, is a free event for the younger kids, Pre-School and Prep to Grade 6 will have a great time making things from recycled materials, music and stories on Saturday 28th June from 10.30 – 12.00 noon at the Camperdown Library. Anne, one of the festival musicians performing with the Corby Band over the weekend, grew up in Camperdown and is a sister of Peter and Maree Daffy.  Anne is involved in many committees including the Lake School, a teacher and busy mum, is kindly organising this fun children’s activity.  The Shortbread Baking Competition is again proudly sponsored by The Loaf and Lounge.  This is a great activity, all the local Schools are encouraging students to enter. Mercy Regional College featured …

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RBCF2025 The Reformers & Harpistry

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Camperdown’s Robert Burns Celtic Festival is one month away.  The Festival Committee have been busy finalising the RBCFestival Program. Dr Menzies OAM and Festival Chair said “The Hope of Something Better” tells a story of Australian Poet Henry Lawson. This year’s program includes a very special event to be held at St Paul’s Church featuring The Reformers and Harpistry on Saturday the 28th June. The Reformers formed to perform “The Hope of Something Better” live. The show is a multimedia performance that includes spoken word, video, songs and a live band, coming together to present the poems of Lawson in a new, vibrant and contemporary way. Hailing from Warrnambool, Victoria, songwriter, musician and producer, Don Stewart, has produced an album called “In the Hope of Something Better”. The Concert presents the poems of Australian iconic poet, Henry Lawson, as spoken word and songs, supported by Celtic tune compositions by internationally renowned Australian composers including Murray …

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ROBERT BURNS CELTIC FESTIVAL – APRIL 2025 PRESS RELEASE

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The 2025 Early Birds Tickets for the Camperdown Robert Burns Celtic Festival offers great discounts for patrons. The Camperdown Robert Burns Celtic Festival Committee are pleased to announce that the festival Program is nearing completion and promises our Festival for the community will see new elements adding to a number of favourite events returning. The Festival Chairperson Dr John Menzies OAM said “the committee is pleased to announce that Early Bird tickets are now available via the festival website through TryBooking until 30th April and the Early Bird tickets are $90.00 which will allow patrons to go to all the performances at the designated venues over the weekend.” Please note that this price excludes the Friday night Gala Dinner. “Purchasing an Early Bird Ticket offers a great discount of 50% and Patrons who purchase their tickets will enjoy the benefits of this amazing offer,” said Festival Coordinator Catherine O’Flynn. Adult EARLY BIRD Weekend Ticket – *$90.00 will be …

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One day to go!

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FINAL PRESS RELEASE Robert Burns Celtic Festival 2024 The 2024 Robert Burns Celtic Festival is here and Camperdown in winter time is a great opportunity to put your hat and coat on and join in this wonderful Winter Festival.  The ABC Back Roads crew will be in town filming the RBCF Festival and Camperdown. This opportunity is a wonderful way to showcase and celebrate our town and community. You can also come in to The Loaf and Lounge on Friday morning from 6.30-9am for his ABC live broadcast, with festival interviews… and help us to sing The Skye Boat Song! Festival Chairperson Dr John Menzies OAM said “The new look festival has something for everyone”.  The festival kicks off with a Movie at the Killara centre on Thursday night, with ‘Wild Mountain Thyme, an Irish Romantic comedy.   On Friday The Gala Dinner at the Theatre Royal has sold out this year but don’t worry there …

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Burns festival introduces new choir and choral events

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The Robert Burns Celtic Festival will be hosting a brand new event as part of this year’s festival, a friendly Celtic choir competition and concert. Patrons are invited to be in the audience and cast a vote for your favourite choir. The competition and concert will be held from 10.30am – 2.15pm Saturday 22 June 2024 at Theatre Royal. $10 Tickets are available online, at Laffs or at the door. Children under 18 – free. Our panel of judges will be voting on the “Most Celtic” choir and presenting winners of all categories with trophies” A newly formed Camperdown based choir, known as the Corangamite Celtic Choir, will also be performing.  Angela Preiss is delighted with the newly formed Choir who are meeting weekly to learn new songs. Over 120 choristers will join in with our own Choir said Jennifer Bromeley said who is co-ordinating the competition.  Visiting Choirs are Ein cioil from Geelong, the …

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Burns Birthday Sun 28 Jan 2024, Program Released

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Burns birthday celebrations to be held at the Camperdown Botanic Gardens on Sunday the 28th of January, from 4pm. A free event, with gold coin donation appreciated. BYO picnic and chairs. What a beautiful way to celebrate our local connection to the Bard, in the sheltered canopy of Linden trees, near where the Robert Burns statue used to be seated. From 3.45 Dr John Menzies will be playing the bagpipes inviting guests to make their way to the performance space. Simon Buccheri will MC the event which will begin with a welcome, followed by the piping in of the haggis. This is a grand sight with a kilted parade that features honoured guests and a sword bearer. Norm Macdonald will then perform the ‘Address to the Haggis’, and while the haggis is prepared for tasting (which is optional) Geelong Scottish Dance, led by Christine Shields, will dance to a pipe tune. This is followed by …

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2024 Robert Burns Camperdown Celtic Festival

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From 2024 Camperdown’s Iconic Robert Burns Scottish Festival will be re-branded as the Robert Burns Celtic Festival and held on 21st – 23rd of June, 2024. Enjoyment of Robert Burns artistry, and appreciation of his independent philosophy saw enthusiastic embracement amongst his Celtic neighbours, especially the Irish in the 18th and 19th Centuries.  Given the substantial Scottish and Irish migration to South West Victoria in the 19th century  the Festival committee has chosen to adjust describing its festival to reflect this, hence we now have a new name that captures Burns Beyond Scotland ‘The 2024 Camperdown Robert Burns Celtic Festival’. This change to a Celtic festival expands our ability to include performers from Ireland, Wales and England while retaining connections to regular Scottish performers. The Robert Burns Celtic Festival is a winter literary and music festival, celebrating Scotland’s national Poet and the Celtic culture in poetry, song, music and dance, in and around the historic buildings of Camperdown. Dr John Menzies OAM, Chair …

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Press Release – Robert Burns Scottish Festival 2023 Wrap

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Dr John Menzies, OAM said “the Festival was a great success this year with a full festival program including free events and ticketed events on offer proved to be a great combination for patrons and visitors to Camperdown, lots of people took advantage of the festival events, venues were well full and well patronised. The hard work in planning and putting the festival has meet all of our expectations”. The 2023 Robert Burns Scottish Festival committee presented a successful weekend. The festival kicked off with the Movie ‘Falling for Figaro’ on Thursday night. On Friday evening 100 guests came to the Gala Dinner featuring a sumptuous Scottish meal including the Address to the Haggis given by festival performer Fiona Ross, who later performed a wonderful selection of Traditional Scottish song, Merran Moir played the small pipes and son Kyle Moir played the bag pipes. Hugh and Janet Gordon also entertained the patrons. Strip the Willow …

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