LAC LA BICHE - About three weeks after area residents rang in the new year, and with the echoes of "Auld Lang Syne" still in the memories, a Lac La Biche event will celebrate the man who wrote the party song more than 230 years ago.
A Robbie Burns night is planned for Jan. 22 at the Lac La Biche Legion, bringing Scottish history, heritage, music, food ... and drink to the community for a wee night-out.
It's the second time in three years that local organizers have honoured the life and literature of the famed Scottish poet. The first event was held locally in 2020 and drew about 50 people to the McGrane Branch Legion for a dinner complete with roast beef and haggis, scotch-brimmed glasses, bagpipe laments, laughter, and a history of Burns.
So what does Lac La Biche have to do with bagpipes, a menu item of tripe in a sheep's stomach, malt alcohol and a dead Scottish folklore hero born halfway around the world two-and-a-half centuries ago?
Well — Molly Fyten for one.
The local woman has got Scottish blood in her veins and bagpipe wind in her lungs. She also knows that ... should old acquaintance be forgot .... a Robbie Burns night brings people together to laugh, eat and drink.
"You become a family," said Fyten, who organized the first party in 2020 and was disappointed when last year's attempt was squashed by COVID protocols. "At this point, with the rules as they are now in the province, we are going ahead with the plans. There will be COVID measures in place ... and all the good stuff of a great night out."
Fyten is not only one of the main planners of the event, she also takes an active role in the night's traditional proceedings by officially piping in the haggis and providing a backdrop of bagpipe songs throughout the night. She's been playing "the pipes" for about three years, learning the very challenging instrument from Angus Campbell, a skilled player who lives in Fort McMurray. Fyten said she met Campbell at a Robbie Burns night in another community and thought it would be a great fit in her home town.
"Other communities hold these nights. They're fun and unique ... and why not? " Fyten said, adding that Campbell, who was born in Scotland, will again be one of the head-table invitees at the upcoming event. Campbell will also offer the historical walk-back of Burns' life, starting from his birth on January 25, 1759, to his death 37 years later, and the lasting legacy, centuries later, of his work.
Although many people know about Robbie Burns Nights, they don't know about the man behind the parties, said Fyten, explaining the January 22 supper night as a cultural experience for everyone.
"You don't have to eat haggis — but it's there. It's more like a nice roast beef dinner — with haggis if you want. Some people don't like scotch, but it will be there ... with a full bar at the Legion," she said. "We want to get people out for a good night and a unique experience."
Tickets on sale now
Tickets for the unique night are $40 and available in advance at the Lac La Biche Legion, through Molly Fyten's facebook page, or by calling 780-404-7740.
The Legion venue is following the province's Restrictions Exemption Program, meaning anyone attending the Robbie Burns Night will have to provide a proof of COVID vaccination. Even with the REP program in place, only 50 tickets are available for the event.
"It's been such a fun night and it's nice to get out. I hope people get their tickets quickly," said Fyten.
