Serious help needed to host a Burns Night

**Bart_In_A_Kilt** · 8th February 09, 11:35 AM

Where do I begin?

here in Southeastern Wisconsin, ( Oconomowoc, Wi ) Our High School Drama Department is one of only 42 High schools selected ( out of 16,000 initially nominated ) to participate in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the summer of 2009.

As a fundraiser, the parent organization had considered hosting a burns night.

So here are the challenges:

1) None of us have ever been to a burns night.
2) we have limited resources
3) we don't know what we would do for entertainment
4) We don't know how to involve and contact local groups that would be interested in participating
5) we don't know what would be an apropriate entry fee to encourage such a kilt Night
6) without some answers and committments from some local groups willing to help, this event is going to loose momentum.

Like I said, where do I begin ?
We'd really love to host a Burns/Kilt night and expose our community to such heritage, and give the kids a taste of what they are in store for.

Any help, advice, contact connections would be most appreciated

Bart

**1MUNK3** · 8th February 09, 11:57 AM

It's a wee bit late but that shouldn't stop you. It originally fell on the anniversary of Robert Burns death the 21st of July. Later it was changed to his birthday the 25th of January. So typically it falls a little before, on, or a little after that said day. If you do a search for "Burns Supper/Dinner" on this site it will give you many answers you might be seeking. Also look up a Scottish Society in your area or state and I'm sure they would be more than willing to help you in the right direction. I know I'm eager to help those interested in Scottish culture. Also, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burns_supper has some basic info on the subject that will help. If you have specific questions I'm sure all of us will help in answering them. Good luck. How exciting and fun this will be for you all. I hope the fundraiser is successful.

**Bart_In_A_Kilt** · 8th February 09, 12:41 PM

Call it a Kilt night, rather than a Burns night? Would that attract more Kilted groups to participate?

**Rex_Tremende** · 8th February 09, 01:02 PM

Maybe a ceilidh - make it a night of dance and poetry (perhaps a poetry contest?) and stories. Less ceremony. Your kids could perform part of their play. Maybe a local folk music group could be persuaded to perform - or else find some good celtic CDs and a volunteer DJ. Kilts optional.

Regards,
Rex.

**McMurdo** · 8th February 09, 04:38 PM

OK
I'd say first you should decide if this will be a Burns Night or something else. I do like the idea of a Ceiledh but if it is going to be a Burns Night there are a few things that you should do. You need a Haggis for a Burns Dinner so look around and see if you can find a Scottish Bakery somewhere in your area that can help with it. Take a look through the recent threads on Burns Dinners that X-Markers have held.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...936/index.html

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...061/index.html

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/3...748/index.html

If you do not have a book of Robert Burns poems get one, so that you can read the Address to the Haggis, have someone do a Toast to the Lasses, and a Response from the Lasses and the Immortal Memory. Here is a good link for a run down of a Burns Supper
http://www.rabbie-burns.com/the_supper/index.cfm.html

I also found these links for Scottish Societies and what not near you.
http://www.beamccowan.com/robbie.htm

http://www.celticmadison.org/music/

http://www.wisconsinscottish.org/

I hope this helps.