Celebrate at the St. Andrews Festival 2007 this November

Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland. Scots all around the world celebrate St. Andrew’s Day annually on the 30th November. What better place could there be to celebrate St. Andrews Day 2007, than in the beautiful medieval town of St. Andrews in Scotland?

The St. Andrews Festival 2007 is a week-long celebration planned around St. Andrews Day with various exciting events taking place in and around the town. Starting from 21 November with a lunchtime musical concert in the Younger Hall and an evening performance of “Some of my Best Friends are Women” by the St. Andrews Playclub to be staged at the Byre Theatre, the week promises to be filled with fun and fellowship.

Saturday 24 November will feature the St. Andrews Festival Procession at 5:30 pm which will be led by the Madras College Pipes & Drums and the Byre Youth Theatre, and will take place along South Street. The St. Andrews Chorus will give a performance of “Handel’s Messiah” at the Younger Hall later in the evening during this Scottish festival.

Sunday will give nature-lovers the opportunity to explore the St. Andrews Botanic Garden at Canongate. A number of exciting activities have been arranged for visitors and there will be a plant sale where experts will be available to answer gardening related questions.

The ‘Just So’ Musical Theatre will be presenting “Whistle Down the Wind” at the Byre Theatre on the evening of Tuesday 27 November. This poignant musical is based on the novel by Mary Hayley Bell which is set in rural Lancashire in the 1950s. The story is woven around the three Bostock children, Nan, Cathy and Charles. The children meet a man who they believe is Jesus Christ. The word spreads among the children of the village who gather to worship the stranger. The children keep the man hidden from the adults, who are engaged in a search for an escaped convict. When their secret is revealed, the children must decide whether to risk everything in order to protect this man that they have grown to love. The storyline and music of “Whistle Down the Wind” leave a lasting impression on audiences.

Friday 30 November is St. Andrews Day and many venues will be participating in “open day” for visitors. Take the opportunity to explore some historical sites, including St. Andrews Castle and Cathedral and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club Building. The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra will present the music of Woody Herman at the Byre Theatre at 8:00 pm – enjoyable entertainment in the classic big band style. From 9:00 pm The Castle Tavern in North Street, the oldest pub in St. Andrews, will host groups of musicians who gather together to play their music for the ‘craic’ (the fun of it). Relax and enjoy the music, from jigs and reels to blue grass and acoustic traditional.

There is no doubt that celebrating St. Andrews Day in St. Andrews, Scotland, will be an unforgettable experience.