Hylton Center hosts a Scottish Highlands Festival this Saturday

From fiddles to crafts to Scottish country dancing to bagpipes, tea and Scotch whisky tastings, there’s something Scottish for all ages at the “Hylton in the Highlands: A Festival of Scotland” in Manassas this Saturday, Jan. 24, The all-day event goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“There’s something about the people and traditions of Scotland that makes them fun and accessible for everyone – whether it’s their music, food, ingenuity, bravery, arts and crafts or just general good spirits,” said Rick Davis, executive director of the Hylton Performing Arts Center, where all the events will take place.

Ken and Brad Kolodner will explore the evolving traditions of Celtic music and its influence on the old-time music of Appalachia (photo by the artists)

The festival features a fun-filled day for children and adults: performances; games, crafts, workshops and other interactive experiences;  Scottish history and culture talks and demonstrations; authentic goods and crafts for sale; and for an additional fee—a taste of Scotland with a Scotch whiskey master class, full afternoon tea and a Burns Night supper (think haggis and poet Robert Burns). Here is the lineup:

Performances:
• Alan Reid and Rob van Sante, of Battlefield Band, perform a lively concert of modern and traditional Scottish folk music, original compositions and Battlefield Band favorites.

• The dynamic trio of Elke Baker, Ken Kolodner and Brad Kolodner explore the evolving traditions of Celtic music and its influence on the old-time music of Appalachia

Interactive experiences:

• Children’s Passport to Scotland featuring Highland games and crafts, in cooperation with Mid-Atlantic Scots 4 Tots

• Scottish country dancing demonstrations and open social dancing, presented by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society

• A fiddle workshop with U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion Elke Baker

• A “bring-your-own-fiddle” jam session with Elke Baker, Ken Kolodner and Brad Kolodner

Scottish history and culture presentations:

• Lectures on Scotland’s “National Dish,” haggis, and on American naval hero and native Scotsman John Paul Jones
   
• Bagpipe demonstrations with master piper and teacher Paula Glendinning

Authentic crafts and goods for sale:

• Jewelry, pottery, traditional apparel and much more, with exhibits by R.E. Piland Goldsmiths, Sheep’s Clothing, Sonny Fletcher Pottery and The Scoti

A Taste of Scotland (additional fees apply):

• A Scotch whisky master class with native Scot and internationally renowned whisky connoisseur Dougie Wylie, “The Scotch Whisky Man,” with Scotch whisky provided by one of Scotland’s oldest family-owned and operated distilleries, William Grant and Sons

• A full afternoon tea with homemade scones, clotted cream and jam, tea sandwiches, custom blended teas, sweets and more, presented by The Things I Love of Old Town Manassas

• The Burns Night Supper, a celebration of Scotland’s national bard, poet and lyricist Robert Burns, featuring Scottish music, poetry reading, a Scotch whisky tasting and the ceremonial presentation of Scotland’s “National Dish,” haggis

Tickets to “Hylton in the Highlands: A Festival of Scotland” include all-day access to all performances, interactive experiences, presentations and exhibitions. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for children, or $40 for a family 4-pack (2 adults/2 children). Additional fees apply for A Taste of Scotland events. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to http://HyltonCenter.org/scottish call ,888-945-2468 or stop by the Hylton Center ticket office, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.