A fun-filled evening will commemorate the life and times of famous Scottish poet Robert Burns during the 8th annual Robert Burns Nicht to be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center on the campus of Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia.
Sponsored by Magnolia Arts and the Department of English and Foreign Language at SAU, festivities will culminate in a free bagpipe band concert presented by the Lyon College Pipes and Drums.
Burns left an indelible imprint on English literature in his 37 years. Although he was born to humble beginnings, he rose to become one of the most revered poets in the English language.
His poems and life are celebrated the world over with traditional Burns suppers more than 200 years after his death. The first of these celebrations was started by close friends of Burns as a tribute to his memory a few years after his death in 1796.
The basic format of the evening has remained unchanged since that time and begins when the master of ceremonies invites the company to stand and receive the haggis, which is brought in with great fanfare, preceded by a piper playing a traditional Scottish bagpipe tune.
This year’s celebration will feature the Immortal Memory presented by SAU alumnus and journalist Samuel (Sammy) Larkin, authentic Scottish food prepared by Aramark, and entertainment by the pipe band from Lyon College.
Tickets are $10 for students and $14 for the general public and can be purchased by contacting Jim McCollum at 870-235-4088 or David Wingfield at 870-235-4202.
