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Celebrating Robbie Burns 261st birthday in Lac La Biche

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Lac La Biche's  Royal Canadian Legion is the venue for an ode to Robbie Burns on Saturday, January 18.

Burns, a famous Scottish poet and writer was born on January 25, 1759, and is best known for pioneering the Romantic Movement and for his song “Auld Lang Syne, part of most New Year's Eve party soundtracks. For decades, Burns' supporters the world over have celebrated the famous Scot, who died in 1796 at the age of 37, with parties around the week of his birthday.

Traditional menu

In Lac La Biche, to celebrate the famous lyricist on what would have been his 261st birthday, there will be a traditional Scottish dinner includng haggis — a Scottish meal consisting of a sheep's heart, liver and kidneys, onions and suet cooked inside the stomach lining of a sheep. Traditionally, the haggis is brought to the Robbie Burns Day diners with the help of a bagpipe song.

For those not adventurous enough to try some, musical entertainment and dram or two of Scotch whiskey will be poured throughout the night. 

There are still tickets available for the dinner. Tickets are $40 and can be picked up by clicking HERE.

Event organizer Molly Fyten is excited to bring this fun tradition ... and her new custom-made purple kilt representing her Scottish heritage, to the community. 

“He was a Scottish celebrity, so it’s a big event every year," said Fyten.  "It’s also an excuse to get together and drink and eat and remember somebody that had such a big influence on the Scottish people.” 

The pipes, the pipes...

Fyten is not only one of the night's organizers, she's also part of the musical entertainment. Fyten plays the bagpipes recreationally, and most recently piped in the world's athletest at the 2019 World Archery indoor 3D Championships hosted in Lac La Biche. She will be playing the pipes throughout the night — and piping in the haggis.  Fyten met her bagpipe instructor, Angus Campbell, in 2016 at a Robbie Burns dinner in Athabasca where he was also piping in the haggis. Campbell will also be helping at the dinner on Saturday.

“It is really cool to see myself become one of the pipers, when I met him he was one of the guys that piped in the haggis,” says Fyten. “At a traditional Robbie Burns dinner, you have a person that actually plays the bagpipes as the haggis is brought in on a platter. Angus was the guy doing that at the time when I met him. He inspired me to get to the point where I’m now piping in the haggis at our dinner on the 18th, so it’s kind of cool that I get to do that this time.” 

Anyone who wants to celebrate the birthday of the poet and songwriter can get their tickets by contacting Fyten at (780) 404-7740 or they can purchase them at the door. Tickets are $40, and cocktails start at 5:30pm. 

Kilts are welcome attire.

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