DESCRIPTION
Gather your clan and your kilt for the third Annual Scottish Festival at Overnewton Castle!
Calling all clans to the four-acre Scottish Baronial Estate, Overnewton Castle, for a jam packed day to celebrate St Andrews Day and all things Scotland! From 11am until 4pm, the grounds will come to life with games and activities for children, live Scottish music & dance, Highland Cows and the best culinary offerings from Melbourne’s leading Scottish Food Suppliers. Pack a picnic or sample some of the fabulous offerings, browse the celtic craft and artisan stalls and soak up the Scottish atmosphere!
With performances by The Drongo and the Crow, Glenbrae Celtic Dancers, Victorian Scottish Pipers & Drums, Spriggins Highland Piping, Lyons Highland Dance Studio, Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club and a Ceilidh by Brunswick Scots Society. The festival will also host Highland Coos, Face Painting, Unicorn Rides for Children, Artisan & Craft Market, Food Stalls, On-site Games, the Keilor Historical Society and a Festival Parade.
Sunday 24th Nov | 11am-4pm | Overnewton Castle – 51 Overnewton Rd, Keilor | Tickets 10/15
What is St Andrews Day?In Scotland, and many countries with Scottish connections, Saint Andrew’s Day is marked with a celebration of Scottish culture, and with traditional Scottish food and music. In Scotland, the day is also seen as the start of a season of Scottish winter festivals encompassing Saint Andrew’s Day.
Celebrate 175 Years with Overnewton Castle – Melbourne’s Only Scottish Baronial EstateOvernewton Castle was built by Scotsman, William Taylor in 1849, who bought 13,000 acres of rich grazing land just west of the Keilor township. Taylor originally built a simple single-story bluestone colonial-style homestead, but in 1859, after returning from a trip to Scotland, he turned the functional colonial homestead into a miniature Scottish Baronial Castle. The Stately two-storied wing was added, along with the blue stone Dairy & Butcher Shop and the Private Billiard room. Today Overnewton Castle remains an iconic piece of historic architecture with a rich past and strong commitment to sharing Keilor’s fascinating Scottish heritage. Fun fact: The suburbs we know today as Taylor’s Lakes and Taylors Hill were named after Mr. Taylor himself.
The Festival SiteThe festival will take place both indoors and outdoors on the four-acre estate, festival attendees can purchase food & drinks from the food market or pack a picnic to enjoy in the myriad of garden locations on site. The Ballroom will host a ceilidh at different intervals throughout the day, while the highland dancers & pipers will perform on the lawn. Pony rides & face painting will be in the gardens and the craft market located in the on site carpark. A full program will be provided by QR code on arrival.
FAQs
Wheelchair AccessWe have reserved Overnewton Close for disability access, this allows wheelchair and mobility aid users to immediate access the front gate, however a certain level of mobility will be required to enjoy the entire festival (see above).
Traffic & ParkingParking will be available across the road at the Overnewton College carpark, which is a short stroll to the festival site. Traffic controllers will be directing traffic on the day.
Dogs on Site – ProhibitedDogs will not be allowed on site, with no exceptions.
BYO Alcohol – ProhibitedYou may bring a picnic lunch to the festival, alcohol MUST be purchased from the bar, as per our licensing requirements.
Cash/EftposEach store will have it’s own policy regarding cash/eftpos payment, Overnewton castle will have card & cash facilities at the gate for tickets sales on the day.
Participate – Stallholders / Artists / VendorsIf you’re interested in participating in the festival, please email [email protected]
Ceilidh – Fun for EveryoneA ceilidh (pronounced Kay-Lee) in it’s most basic form is a gathering, however it more commonly refers group dancing with led by a ‘caller’ who typically teaches the relatively simple steps beforehand. You are invited to attend one of the many ceilidh dance sessions throughout the day – there is no minimum skillset or experience required, so bring your dancing shoes!
Traditional Music Session
A Traditional Music Session is an open invitation to musicians who enjoy (or are curious about) Scottish folk music to bring their instruments and join in with the Scottish Fiddle Society, a level of musical competence will be required as this will be an open access jam of sorts, BYO instrument.
What to Bring
Your dancing shoes to move along with our on site entertainment.
An appetite – we have so many wonderful food stalls on site to satisfy every belly!
A water bottler, hat & sunscreen – unlike Scotland, it will likely be a sunny day!
A picnic blanket/chairs so you can enjoy the spacious gardens with the family.
Please Note: there is a NO REFUND POLICY/DATE CHANGE for this event.
