Scottish poet Robert Burns may have been dead for 213 years but he would be happy to see his 250th birthday celebrated with such vigour, Dunedin Burns Club president Margaret Smith said yesterday.
"He would think it was terrific. He had lots of friends and, if there was a party, he would be there."
January 25 marks the famous birthday and the Dunedin Burns Club, in association with the Dunedin City Council, the Otago Settlers Museum, the First Church of Otago and the Dunedin Library, has a host of events planned.
The annual Burns Supper is the main focus of the celebrations and the Immortal Memory presentation will be given by the University of Otago's new Scottish Studies professor, Dr Liam McIlvanney, who arrived in Dunedin from Scotland this month.
Other events marking the occasion include Robbie Rocks, where Dunedin bands compete to put Burns' poetry to music; Scottish cookery, where children get the chance to make "drop scones", something similar to pikelets; and a coach trip to Balclutha Museum to view Burns artefacts.
Mrs Smith (76) hoped the magnitude of the 250-year anniversary would attract more people to the celebrations, which were bringing in fewer people each year.
The programme includes. -
January 22: Dunedin Library Exhibition: "A Man's Man for a' That", Reed Gallery, Dunedin City Library.
January 23: Coach trip to a museum of Burns artefacts, Balclutha Museum.
January 25: Church service, First Church of Otago, 10am.
January 25: "Robbie Rocks" finals, Burns' poems set to music by Dunedin bands, 1pm, the Octagon.
January 25: Poetry competition prizegiving. 5pm, Clifford Skeggs Room, Council Chambers.
January 25: The Burns Supper, 6.30pm, Victoria Hotel.