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 is a Festival Concert at Killara featuring Peter Daffy and Friends Celtic band and the Twa Bards, which will entertain music lovers.
Saturday is filled with lots of things to see and do with Free Events open to all, including Janet and Hugh Gordon performing at the Loaf and Lounge, Judging of the Shortbread baking competition at the Loaf and Lounge with Back Roads host Kerry Straight and Mayor Kate Makin judging the shortbreads. Who will win? Come along and see for yourselves.
On Saturday Dr John Menzies will be piping from the Clock Tower and a Burns Market with lots of markets stalls in the Avenue is on both Saturday and Sunday. Highland Dancing at the Heritage Centre at 11.00 and 1.00pm. The Lakes and Craters Band performing at the Masonic Hall from 11.30 am and at 1.30 pm Irish Stories and Poetry presented by Pat Walsh All free entry.
Dr John Menzies said “This year’s History Talks has four great speakers from 10.30 am – 3.30 pm – come into Killara to listen to guest presenters, Dr Rosalie Triolo, Dr Iain Buckland, Dr Peter Yule and Alan ‘Sarge’ Hart”.
A brand new event, a choral competition/concert, will be held on Saturday at the Theatre Royal from 10.30-2.30. We have seven visiting Choirs plus our very own newly formed Corangamite Celtic Choir performing. Ticket are just $10.00 per person and Children under the age of 18 years are free. 120+ choristers will join together on stage to sing the Skye Boat Song under the baton of Kym Dillion.
Two Scottish Lassies, Fiona Ross and Dr Val Taylor will put on a Scottish presentation of Robert Burns Songs and a recital of Tam O’ Shanter at the Statue of Burns in the Council Office, free entry.
Enjoy Saturday Afternoon at the Theatre Royal Concert with the Australian Irish Dance Company, Tuniversal, Apolline and Merran and Pete Moir.
Live Music will be at the Hampden hotel and a Whisky Tasting bar, come along and enjoy Angus Barbary, Caity Brennan and Connor Hoy along with other festival musicians perform.
A fun family night event at 6.30 pm at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, if you love bush dancing bring the kids and learn some fun Scottish Country Dancing, let your feet be inspired by the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club Ceilidh Band. Prizes for the Schools Art and Writing competition will be presented to the winning entries at the Family Ceilidh.
A concert at Killara on Saturday night will feature Fiona Ross and Hugh and Janet Gordon at 7.30 pm.
There will be a continuing ceilidh and concert in the Theatre Royal, promising a fabulous night with the award winning three piece band Apolline, Peter Daffy and Friends Celtic Band, and trio; Angus Barbary, Caity Brennan and Connor Hoy, including an open music session afterwards open to all musicians.
Sunday morning there will be a concert at Killara from 10 am – 11.00 am featuring Tuniversal Music Inc and Hugh and Janet Gordon. The Camperdown Lions Club are selling egg and bacon rolls so buy your breakfast and enjoy the morning concert. From 10 – 12 we also have The Twa Bards performing a tribute to Robert Burns through his songs and stories, this is free entry, at the Statue in the Shire Foyer, and will include a poem or two from Andrew O’Flynn.
Market and music featuring the Lakes and Craters Band, with the Clock tower open for the public, and The Robbie Burns Golf Ambrose kicks off at 11.00 am at the Camperdown Golf Club, so for the keen golfers a fun competition is on
The festival Finale Concert starts at 1.00 pm featuring the Warrnambool Pipes and Drums, The Melbourne Male Welsh Choir (special thanks to Cobden & Districts and Camperdown Community Bank for sponsoring TMWMC) and the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, this event is a not to be missed concert.
The Robert Burns Celtic Festival committee are all volunteers who work together to present Camperdown’s Flagship festival and we appreciate all the local sponsors and funders for their continued support.
Please visit the festival website for more information camperdownburnsfestival.com.au
Tickets on Sale at Laffs or at the festival venues.
Contact Catherine O’Flynn 0407 056 126