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First Library Getaway Festival in Pointe-Claire: Scotland and its traditions

On September 14, the Pointe-Claire Public Library invites citizens to its first Library Getaway Festival.

For this first edition, children and adults are invited to the Central Library for a journey to the heart of Scottish culture and traditions through fun and educational activities, lectures and tastings, all to the sound of bagpipes.

Read, listen, discover, taste: this is what this event will offer, for a festival packed with emotions.

Read: Round-table discussion on Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and lecture by Sam Allison, author of Driv’n by Fortune. Library Getaway bags prepared by librarians will be available for loan to those who want to be pleasantly surprised by Scottish-themed reads.

Listen: Bagpipe performance by the Montréal Piping and Drumming School; a selection of Scottish and Celtic songs by Jane Critchlow accompanied on the harp by Meta Epstein; dance demonstrations by the 78th Fraser Highlanders; and Celtic folk music by Salty Dog.

Discover: Lecture and performance by Douglas Gibson, publisher, writer and storyteller; introduction to searching for Scottish ancestors with Gary Schroder from the Québec Family History Society; introduction to tartans, kilts and symbolism; crafts.

Taste: haggis ceremony and whiskey tasting with Brian McQueenie; Scottish tea and biscuit tasting.

In addition, special activities have been planned for children: crafts, colouring and pins, face painting and story time.

A draw will also be held among participants for a chance to win a signed copy of the book Outlander.

The Library Getaway Festival plans to put forward a program that will showcase a different region, tradition, culture or theme every year.

The program can be found on the Library’s blog, at www.pcplblog.wordpress.com