The Caledonian Society of Bermuda

Pre-Highland Games Ceilidh at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess

Building on the popularity of the traditional Scottish dancing at our annual St. Andrew’s Ball, the Caledonian Society of Bermuda will be hosting a Pre-Highland Games Ceilidh in the ballroom at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess on Friday, June 14th.

This will be a warm-up for the 2nd Annual Highland Games the next day and the Ceilidh, which will feature  the New Dewar’s Highlander Honey, will start immediately after Happy Hour at 9pm. 

Tickets cost $45 and includes a free drink, live music provided by a ceilidh band from Scotland, a cameo performance by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pipe Band and plenty of dancing. The dances are fun and easy to pick up but dancing instructions will also be given on the night. Anyone with a kilt is strongly encouraged to wear it.

Tickets will be available at the door but advance tickets are available from Liz Ward at emw@ecbermuda.com or 704-0631. 

Here is the link to the event on Facebook.

Game Registration and Corporate Hospitality at the Bermuda Highland Games

Bermuda's 2nd Ever Highland Games will be taking place 6 weeks tomorrow on Saturday, June 15th, and once again, we're thrilled that so many of you are interested in attending and participating.  We can already tell that this year is going to be even bigger and better than last year.

 

For anyone interested in having a go at Tossing the Caber or in forming teams of 8 for the Tug o' War, registration is open now - here is a copy of the registration form with all the details for each.  If interested in the Highland Run, a race of around 5km, here's the registration form with details with details.

 

Whether you want to entertain some clients or just enjoy the Bermuda Highland Games in style, you may be interested in tickets to our Corporate Hospitality Marquee which are now on sale.

 

• Individual Tickets are $165.00. A table of 10 tickets is $1500.00 a saving of $150.00

• Children are welcome: Children Under 3 Free of Charge, 3-12years - $25.00, 12-18 $50.00, Over 18 same as adult.

 

Tickets must be reserved and purchased in advance by electronic payment direct or by cheque payable to the Caledonian Society of Bermuda under advice to Liz Ward.

 

Each ticket covers:

• Private Parking

• Admission to the Bermuda Highland Games Corporate Hospitality Marquee and Showfield

• Seating within the Marquee

• Afternoon Tea with Sherry

• Whisky Tasting

• Traditional Scottish Dinner with wine

 

Please make payment one of two ways: cheque payable to Caledonian Society Highland Games or electronic funds payable to the Caledonian Society Highland Games account with Butterfield Bank 20006060607291100 under advice to Liz Ward emw@ecbermuda.com

 

Please direct all queries on the Corporate Hospitality Tickets to Liz Ward at emw@ecbermuda.com or call 704-0631

Bermuda Highland Games: Yesterday's Press Release

This summer, as the Commonwealth countries prepare for the 2014 Games in Glasgow Scotland, Bermuda will be hosting games of a different origin. On Saturday 15^th June at Saltus Playing Field in Pembroke, there will be a competition to see who can toss a long heavy wooden pole as accurately as possible, to see who can complete a 5K obstacle course in the shortest time and to determine which tug o’ war team is the strongest.

 

In other words, the Caledonian Society of Bermuda is pleased to announce it will be holding its 2^nd Annual Highland Games, which, in addition to a host of ‘field’ events will include Highland dancing competitions and bag piping demonstrations. Special guests at the games will be the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pipe Band H Division and their Dancers. In addition we are delighted to welcome the Schiehallion Dancers from Hamilton, Ontario and the Mackenzie School of Dance from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

 

The Caledonian Society of Bermuda in conjunction with the Bermuda Island Pipe Band and Highland Dancers will be hosting the event, supported by the Bermuda Regiment. Also taking part will be the North Village Band and the Somerset Brigade Band. From the feedback we received from the 1^st games held last June, the organisers believe the Games, entertaining and highly colourful, will be well-received by residents and visitors alike.

 

This is very much a family event, and there will be contests in which members of the public will be invited to participate. Among these will be the 50m dash for adults and children. The ‘kilted dash’, for runners wearing kilts, should prove particularly spectacular. So be sure to bring your running shoes with you.

 

There will also be a great deal of activity to appeal to spectators. The Highland dancing competition will run throughout the day, punctuated by demonstrations put on by the highly skilled pipers and dancers from Bermuda and overseas.

 

This event would not be possible without the support of our major sponsors. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Bermuda Department of Tourism, Hiscox Bermuda, BELCO, Jardine Matheson and Goslings. Our host hotel is the Fairmont Hamilton Princess which is offering a great rate for any overseas visitors.

 

Preceding the Games earlier in the week will be school visits by some of the pipe band and dance members, participation at the Beat Retreat on the Monday at Dockyard and Harbour Night on the Wednesday in Hamilton and a special performance by the RCMP Pipe Band at the Fairmont Hamilton Friday Happy Hour followed by a traditional scottish Ceilidh.

 

Caledonian Society of Bermuda President, Scott Devine said, “As president of the Caledonian Society I’m delighted to announce the 2^nd Bermuda Highland Games. The society has worked long and hard to promote all things Scottish in Bermuda and the Highland Games is the ultimate Scottish event.  We look forward to welcoming the entire island to Saltus Field to sample traditional Scottish food and games, like tossing the caber, tug o’ war, musical displays and highland dancing competitions.   The whole event will run alongside the visit to the island of the RCMP H Division who will also be accompanying the Bermuda Regiment in the Queen’s Birthday Parade which will be held earlier that day. The day is shaping up to be a great spectacle and lots of fun for the entire family. We hope people will come out and enjoy a great day of fun, games and all things Scottish”.

 

Food and drink, with a distinctly Scottish influence, will be available for purchase at a number of different food stalls, with a ‘kiddie land’ for younger members of the family.

With an admission price of $5 per adult and children under 12 years free, this will be an inexpensive way for families to enjoy healthy exercise and build a sense of community.

Events begin at 2.30pm with a spectacular Parade from City Hall to Saltus Field and will continue into the evening, with closing ceremonies planned to start at 8.30pm which will include a display by the Schiehallion Dancers then a march past by the participating bands.

 

For further information see our web site www.caledoniansocietyofbermuda.com  or to become a sponsor or to purchase corporate hospitality passes please contact our Event Planner Elizabeth Ward of Executive Choice Bermuda at emw@ecbermuda.com or call 704 0631

 

 

-----ENDS-----

 

For more information, to arrange interviews or to arrange for Press Passes to the Games please contact:  Elizabeth M. Ward 704-0631 emw@ecbermuda.com

 

 

 

Update on the 2nd Annual Bermuda Highland Games

 

Please save the date: Bermuda’s second ever Highland Games will be on Saturday, June 15th at Saltus Field.

 

Last year’s event was a great success and even came complete with authentic Scottish weather! This year’s will once again be a fun-filled family event with the games including Tossing the Caber, field races, the 50 yard kilted running race, a 5K run and walk, children's running race, Tug o' War, Kiddie Land and more, with food stalls available on the grounds including traditional Scottish fare and Bermuda eats. The guest Pipe Band will be the Pipes & Drums of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police H Division (Nova Scotia) & Dancers and we will also welcome the Schiehallion Dancers from Ontario (who have featured in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo) as well as the MacKenzie Dancers from Nova Scotia.

 

The current schedule for the day is as follows:

2:30pm                    Field Opens

3:00pm                    Massed Bands enter the Showfield and His Excellency, the Governor will open the 2nd Bermuda Highland Games

3:30pm - 7:30pm      The Games begin along with Dancing Competitions, Piping displays and more

5:00pm                    The Highland Run (Registration is required)

8:30pm                    Cameo Spotlight - The Scheilhallion Dancers

9:00pm                     The Massed Bands Beat Retreat Finale

 

Admission is $5, free for children under 12 years.  

 

The host hotel is the Fairmont Hamilton with a preferred guest rate. Please visit their website direct for details and information: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/bermudahighlandgames

 

We know how much you all enjoy the traditional Scottish dancing at our St. Andrew’s Ball so, the day before the Highland Games, on Friday, June 14th, there will be a special Happy Hour followed by a Ceilidh at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. Bacardi has been a longtime supporter of Caledonian Society events with Dewar’s products. To complement the Highland Games, Bacardi are bringing over Stephen Marshall, Global Brand Ambassador for John Dewar & Sons. Stephen will be doing whisky training and tasting sessions at various restaurant locations between June 11th and June 14th, an excellent opportunity to share in the knowledge from a renowned whisky expert, who is passionate about the industry.

 

Please watch this space for full details as they become available.

 

Important Updates on the Burns Supper

Just over 2 weeks to go until our 2013 Burns Supper at Rosewood Tucker's Point but we have some exciting news that we'd like to share with you all in advance!

The BBC has commissioned Matchlight Ltd, an independent TV production company based in Glasgow, Scotland, to film Burns Supper events at various locations around the world, and Bermuda has been chosen as one of the venues. The programme will be broadcast sometime in the first half of 2014 as part of the lead up to the Commonwealth Games which will be held in Glasgow in the summer of 2014.

If this isn't enough good news, Rosewood Tucker's Point have lowered their room rate for attendees from $225 to $175. If you already purchased at the $225 rate, you will be upgraded to a deluxe room.

 

Finally, we are pleased to announce that our confirmed list of speakers for the evening is as follows:

MC:  Bruce Murray

Address to the Haggis:  Ian Cummings

Immortal Memory:  Mark Lavery

Toast to Scotland:  Governor Fergusson

Toast to Bermuda:  Scott Gemmell

Toast to the Lassies:  Bill Zuill

Reply on Behalf of the Lassies:  Rebecca Brady Dawn Zuill