Coming up in August...
HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS AT EDINBURGH’S FESTIVALS
Scotland’s capital city will mark Homecoming in style during the world famous summer festivals period in August. Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Book Festival and Edinburgh Art Festival are all celebrating Homecoming with special activity ranging from Burns, The Scottish Enlightenment, heritage and cultural identity. Until Sept 6 Edinburgh
WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 8000 pipes and drums, 200 bands, one world champion! Witness titanic battles between an international line-up of pipe bands challenging for the World championship with Highland dancing, Drum Major Competitions and European Highland Games, The Worlds is a day of vibrant colours, passionate music and intense competition.
Aug 15 Glasgow Green, Glasgow
PIPING LIVE! MUSIC OF THE CLANS RUNRIG AT SCONE PALACE
Hear the best in piping music from around the world in Glasgow. Discover your roots and perhaps even a love of piping both traditional and contemporary at the Music of the Clans - a special series of Homecoming events dedicated to Scottish heritage and piping. It will be a piping spectacular! Runrig, Scotland’s premier Celtic rock band, take part in the Homecoming celebrations with one of the biggest open- air live shows of the year. Witness the band taking centre stage in the magnificent parklands of the historic Scone Palace, in what promises to be a memorable Homecoming party.
Until Aug 16 George Square, Glasgow Aug 29 Scone Palace, Perth
EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO: FREE ‘TASTE OF THE TATTOO PERFORMANCES COWAL GATHERING
In celebration of Scotland’s Year of Homecoming and for the first time in its history, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo will also be going on tour to selected venues outside Edinburgh offering new audiences the opportunity to experience free, lunchtime 60 minute performances. An international extravaganza for Homecoming Year complements the world famous Cowal Highland Gathering, welcoming back visitors from the UK and abroad to the Games and much, much more. Enjoy dancers, musicians, food and local produce, arts and crafts, music, and of course, the massed pipes and drums.
Aug 13 Linlithgow Palace Peel Aug 29 Dunoon
With more than 300 events across Scotland to choose from throughout 2009, this is just a taste of some of the events that are taking part in the celebrations for Homecoming Year. For the full listing of events and to register for programme updates go to: homecomingscotland2009.com.