Lyon Faculty set to host the Arkansas Scottish Competition, ScotsFest this weekend

Lyon Faculty will kick off the celebration of its a hundred and fiftieth anniversary with ScotsFest, the forty second Arkansas Scottish Competition and Lyon Faculty Homecoming, beginning Friday (Oct. 14) by Sunday (Oct. 16) on the Batesville campus.

Common admission to the pageant is free, although some particular person and alumni occasions require a registration charge.

“Whereas each ScotsFest is a good pageant, this 12 months represents one thing particular within the lifetime of our neighborhood: a chance to return collectively, alumni and buddies alike, from each nook of Arkansas and from throughout the nation to rejoice 150 years of historical past and custom at Lyon Faculty,” mentioned Dr. David Hutchison, Vice President for Development.

The Arkansas Scottish Competition started in 1979 as a small honest on the campus’ intramural area as a technique to pay homage to the Scottish heritage of the Faculty’s Presbyterian founders. It has grown into one of many better-known festivals in Arkansas and probably the most distinguished festivals in the USA for honoring Scottish heritage and traditions. That is the second 12 months the pageant might be mixed with the Lyon Faculty Homecoming.

Introduced by Lyon Faculty and lead companions White River Well being and Expertise Independence, ScotsFest will function quite a lot of actions in celebration of Lyon Faculty’s sesquicentennial, together with particular musical performances, alumni and buddies gatherings, Highland dancing, sheepdog demonstrations, a canine present, youngsters’s actions, a bonniest knees contest, and a feast and ceilidh. .

“The entire weekend is absolutely an enormous kickoff for 10 straight days of particular occasions and actions that showcase our distinctive story as a pioneer faculty within the foothills of the Ozarks, our journey to a nationwide liberal arts faculty at the moment, and looking out ahead to what nice issues are in retailer not only for Lyon Faculty, however for Arkansas,” Hutchinson mentioned.

Cindy Barber, govt director of Alumni Engagement, mentioned, “There’s at all times an air of pleasure on campus throughout ScotsFest, and we love seeing so many alumni and buddies come residence to Lyon. This 12 months, you do not need to overlook it. We look ahead to celebrating our Scottish heritage, homecoming, the sesquicentennial, and Lyon Faculty’s thrilling future along with you.”

John 3:16 Ministries, a religious bootcamp for males with drug and alcohol addictions, will arrange and take down the pageant.

ScotsFest will start with open courses, a president’s reception, alumni awards celebration and social, and the Kilted Mile race/stroll at twelfth and Major Avenue in downtown Batesville at 6 p.m.

“This 12 months we can have a number of pipe bands from across the area and nice opening ceremonies with all of the favorites: Wonderful Grace, Scotland the Courageous and others,” mentioned Jimmy Bell, Director of the Scottish Heritage Program. “Come see or enter your self within the heavy athletics. You’ll have a chance to throw stones and weights for distance or top and throw some phone poles.”

MacLachlan’s Jacobite Highlanders and Colonel Munro’s thirty seventh Regiment of Foot will do historic reenactments Saturday morning adopted by a Highland athletics competitors, rocket demonstrations, pipe band exhibitions, Highland dancing, softball alumni sport, Black Scholar Affiliation reunion, homecoming tailgate, a British automotive present, Li’l Highlanders Enjoyable Zone, Highland dancing, baseball alumni sport and a Lyon volleyball sport.

There might be a band and clans march-past adopted by opening ceremonies at midday with a mass pipe band live performance in Sofa Backyard. Afternoon actions embrace a canine present, homecoming pep rally and homecoming soccer sport. A feast and ceilidh start at 6 p.m., adopted by a younger alumni social.

“There’s nothing extra thrilling than the colourful parade of clans, until it’s the soul-stirring soundtrack offered by the pipe bands because the clans march previous,” mentioned Kenton Adler, Director of Improvement for Scottish Heritage. “And when the massed bands play collectively, it actually can’t be beat.”

Sunday’s lineup features a Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan worship service at 11 a.m. within the leisure tent with tea and scones offered at 10:30 a.m., in addition to sheepdog demonstrations, Highland dancing and a bonniest knees contest. A Membership 50 celebration for individuals who have been alumni for over 50 years is about for midday within the Maxfield Room of Edwards Frequent, with the category of 1972’s induction into Membership 50. The pageant closes at 4 p.m.

“Lyon Faculty welcomes everybody to return to this momentous event. ScotsFest is at all times probably the most, if not essentially the most, various and entertaining occasions in Independence County. There’s something for everybody of all ages. Forty-two years of follow made excellent,” mentioned Pam Palermo, Director of Institutional Occasions.

Along side the sesquicentennial, Founders’ Week celebrations will proceed with each day actions the next week and can culminate Oct. 22 with the inauguration of Dr. Melissa Taverner, Lyon Faculty President.

“Our a hundred and fiftieth birthday goes to be a bash. We’ve got every week filled with occasions that may finish with our nineteenth Presidential Inauguration and Sesquicentennial Black-Tie Gala,” Palermo mentioned.

Following is a listing of the ScotsFest occasions deliberate for this 12 months. The total schedule could be seen at arscottishfest.com.