Press Release

Jan 2026 Burns Birthday Event

by

The Robert Burns Celtic Festival Committee invite you to a relaxed, family friendly afternoon. The annual Robert Burns Birthday Celebrations are to be held at the Camperdown Botanic Gardens on Sunday the 25th of January, from 4-6pm. This is a free event, with donations appreciated. A raffle will also be held, so grab a few tickets on the way in. Please BYO picnic and chairs. A natural stage appears under the sheltered canopy of Linden trees, near where the Robert Burns statue used to be seated and from around 3.40 Dr. John Menzies will play the bagpipes, inviting guests to make their way to the performance space. A welcome message invites the ‘Piping in of, and address to the Haggis’. This kilted parade, featuring honoured guests and a sword bearer, is a grand sight and sound. While the haggis is prepared for tasting Geelong Scottish Dance, led by Christine Shields, will dance a highland fling to …

Read more

Family and Children’s Activities

by

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 …

Read more

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

by

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 …

Read more

RBCF2025 Stories, Music, Fun and Making…

by

“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 …

Read more

One day to go!

by

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 …

Read more

Burns festival introduces new choir and choral events

by

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 …

Read more

2024 Robert Burns Camperdown Celtic Festival

by

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 …

Read more

Press Release – Robert Burns Scottish Festival 2023 Wrap

by

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 …

Read more

29 JUNE – 2 JULY 2023 ROBERT BURNS SCOTTISH FESTIVAL WEEKEND

by

29 JUNE – 2 JULY 2023 ROBERT BURNS SCOTTISH FESTIVAL WEEKEND IS PROMISING TO BE A GREAT FESTIVAL WITH A FULL PROGRAM OF EVENTS. Tickets Available Now: https://www.trybooking.com/CICVY $60 Weekend Ticket (excludes Gala Dinner & Lectures – includes entry to 4 concerts – 3 Saturday, and Finale on Sunday, value $100)$35 Saturday Day Ticket (includes entry to 3 concerts – morning, afternoon and evening, value $75)$25 Single Entry$25 Saturday – Lecture Series$80 Friday – Night Gala Dinner$5 Thursday – Movie Night ‘ Falling for Figaro’Suggested Donation $15 – Saturday Ploughman’s Lunch with Unicorn Tapestry, limited spaces.FREE – Festival Choir FREE – Sunday Morning Concert – Gathering @ The BardFREE – Family Show with Eric ReadFREE – Kid’s Activities, Highland Dancing demonstrations & more… read on for full program details, including the school’s program, cooking classes, golf tournament and shortbread baking competition. For further information please contact Catherine O’Flynn RBSF Co-ordinator on 0407 056 126Connect: camperdownburnsfestival.com and facebook.com/robertburnsfestival Festival Chairperson, Dr …

Read more

Sunday 23 January 2022 Burns Birthday Event

by

The 2022 Camperdown Robert Burns Scottish Festival is Celebrating Scotland’s famous Bard in the Camperdown Botanic Gardens on Sunday January 23rd.  The Gardens once home to our Statue of Robbie Burns will be hosting a Family friendly event marking his birthdate.  Dr John Menzies OAM said, “It is a happy coincidence that James Dawson’s son- in-law William Taylor gifted the 1831 Greenshields statue of Robert Burns to the Camperdown Community which has been the inspiration for the present Robert Burns Scottish Festival. This event is kick starting our 2022 festival and has been hosted in the Gardens for a number of years with folk coming along to enjoy our beautiful gardens in Camperdown”. Dr John Menzies OAM said “the RBSF committee is hosting the event and will be held with the current Covid guidelines including QR Codes on entry and proof of double vaccination” Live music in the gardens and entertainment from 4.00 pm including musicians Luke Plumb and …

Read more