Did you know there was an actual bagpipe band in the Fayetteville area? Did you know the band has organized a traditional Scottish Burns Supper annually for over 25 years?

If you answered “no” or “what the hell is a Burns Supper?” to either one of these questions, you might consider checking out the Robert Burns Night Supper this Saturday, January 24 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The event is the annual fundraiser for the Ozark Highlanders Pipe Band. It’s a great time if you’re looking for something a little off kilter. (sorry that was terrible).

About Burns Night: Burns Suppers are held in Scotland and around the world to celebrate the life and work of Scottish poet, Robert Burns. But as anyone who’s ever been to one of these things will tell you (and Robbie Burns himself would tell you if he hadn’t died in 1796) it’s just an excuse to have a party or a “ceilidh” (pronounced kay-lee). Kind of like a Scottish version of St. Patrick’s Day, without the parade.

About Robert Burns: You might not know him, but you may be familiar with his work. You’ve probably belted out a drunken version of Auld Lang Syne at a New Year’s Eve party sometime in your life. Burns wrote that in the Lowland Scots language, which is a mixture of old Gaelic and English. Which explains why nobody knows what the hell the lyrics mean.

Fayetteville’s Burns Supper sticks to the traditional Scottish traditions, so you’ll find plenty of dudes in kilts, bagpipers and Scotland’s official dish, haggis.

About Haggis: From the Wiki:

There are many recipes, most of which have in common the following ingredients: sheep’s ‘pluck’ (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally boiled in the animal’s stomach for approximately three hours.

Mmmm, Scottish home cooking. There’ll also be other stuff to eat for those not willing to brave the haggis. (But on a personal note, I’ve had it and I find it delicious.)

Tickets are $25 and that includes dinner and all the bagpipe music you can handle. Go here for ticket info.

Kilts are not required but encouraged. And keep in mind, just as you don’t have to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, you don’t have to be a Scottie to hoist one for Rabbie either.