The Gathering 2009
Thousands of visitors are expected over two days in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park this summer for one of the showpiece events of Scotland’s Homecoming Year.
The Gathering 2009, which takes place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July, celebrates the best of Scottish culture with a veritable feast of activities, events, and entertainment, including Highland Games and a huge Scottish festival.
As well as incorporating the Deuchars World Highland Games Heavy Events Championship, The Gathering also features appearances from best-selling authors Alexander McCall Smith and Diana Gabaldon, and music from Dougie MacLean, Capercaillie and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
There’s also everything from traditional dancing, whiskey tasting, food, and craft fairs, to children’s activities, storytelling, and a dedicated genealogy area - all housed across 200 individual marquees covering the entire area of the Park behind Holyrood Palace.
Saturday evening also sees a 6000-strong clan parade up the Royal Mile to the Castle Esplanade for the world premiere of Aisling’s Children: Tales of the Homecoming - a new pageant specially devised for the occasion by award winning director and writer Mark Murphy and Edinburgh-based writer, journalist and academic Raymond Ross.
Director of The Gathering 2009, Lord Sempill said: “This is not just a gathering of clans from across the world, this is a celebration of our culture that families from across Scotland can enjoy too, and this is reflected in the different activities and events in Holyrood Park which will appeal to all ages.”
The Gathering 2009
The greatest international clan gathering and largest Highland Games ever held in Scotland, to celebrate the nation's rich history and culture, as well as the best of contemporary Scotland. Incorporating the World Highland Games Heavy Events Championship, plus piping, Highland dancing, live music and hill racing. The Clan Parade from Holyrood to the Castle Esplanade is on Saturday from 7.15pm.