Burns Supper -- Eureka Springs, Arkansas

**macwilkin** · 1st December 07, 08:37 PM

For those kilties in the area, the Eureka Spring Burns Supper at the famous (and haunted) Crescent Hotel is an event not to be missed! A number of the Springfield (Mo) Scots will be there to help our Arkansas neighbours celebrate the life & works of the ploughman poet.

Yours aye,

Todd

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EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. – Celtic Connections Eureka , a two-day celebration of Scottish heritage, music, poetry, food and drink, celebrates the 249th birthday of the great Robert Burns, the "Bard of Scotland", in Eureka Springs January 25 and 26, 2008. It's the 10th year of this event locally, and Celtic Connections Eureka calls to the clans and celto-philes from the seven nations hither and yon to gather at Eureka Springs' most-famous castle, the 1886 Crescent Hotel for the occasion.

The traditional Robert Burns Night Suppers are scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings at 5:30 PM, and feature musical guest host Ed Miller, modern bard of Scotland and Scottish folksong preservationist, Highland bagpipe music by Pipe Major Mark Stanfield, and special appearance on Saturday by the Tullintrain West Pipe Band.

Both evenings' dinners are hosted by the Crescent Hotel's Crystal Dining Room where the setting provides the castle-like backdrop for all the pomp and circumstance. This annual, around-the-world birthday tribute to the life, works and spirit of Robert Burns is the 10 th year for this event in Eureka Springs. The evening promises highland pipes, poetry and pride, the traditional Scottish dinner with roast beef and haggis, the drinking of Scotch whisky and the recitation of Burns works, along with general merry-making and song-singing. Cash bar is open at 5:30 PM, and the grand march to dinner escorted by Pipe Major Mark Stanfield is at 6:00 PM.

Guest Host, Ed Miller is an expert on Robert Burns. He is also a gifted musician who has learned his craft in musical venues on both sides of the Atlantic and a folklorist who brings his love of Scotland to every performance. A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, now living in Austin, Texas, Ed Miller is a product of the 1960s folk revival in Scotland. He moved to the United States in 1968 to complete his graduate work in Geography, and later Folklore, at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to his singing career, Ed is the host of a folk music program on Austin's NPR station, KUT-FM. "All this wonderful music, Burns lore and story-telling from a Scotsman who sure looks mighty fetchin' in his kilt!", says an appreciative female fan from last year's Celtic Connections Eureka event.

"Robert Burns was truly the voice of the Scots. Any ethnic group will collect around a cultural voice and for the Scots who endured British oppression for centuries, Burns covered the whole spectrum of life in those ages," says Bruce Crabtree, local author and historian. Crabtree will perform a dramatic interpretation of "Robert Bruce's March to Bannockburn" in traditional attire and full brogue with piper Mark Stanfield. Dinner guests will also have a chance to learn more about the life and times of Robert Burns in a special Saturday workshop presented by Ed Miller. This and other Scottish heritage workshops will be presented Saturday at the Crescent Hotel.

Also joining the event will be Arkansas Celts, award-winning Celtic Heartstrings Linda Brockinton, Brenda Ramsey and Kay Martin playing traditional music on mountain dulcimer and flute and Irish harp. Celtic Heartstrings will perform each evening at 9:00 PM in Dr. Barker's Lounge and at the Crescent Hotel Sunday Brunch on January 27th.

Advance reservations are required. Dinner tickets, which include the Saturday workshops, are $40 for Friday and $45 for Saturday. Tickets may be purchased online at www.EurekaCelts.com or by calling PaperMoon Attractions at 888-363-9545.