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SCOTTISH IN FLORIDA +Scottish Festivals +bagpipers for hire.

Och Aye….Scotfact:   A third of all Americans surveyed by the Scottish Tourist board thought haggis was an animal they could hunt and catch.   Many booked trips to Scotland hoping to go on haggis-hunting tours.  There are dozens of Scottish societies around Florida, many holding Highland Games and Festivals…see the list below.  

January 27, 2024 Annual Burns Supper in Ft. Lauderdale.  Info/tickets on www.sassf.org

EVERY JANUARY!    DO TRY A BURNS SUPPER….Celebrate Scotland’s world-famous poet Robert Burns. Join fellow English/Scottish/Welsh/Irish local expats for this unique event. People gather for Rabbie Burns suppers in all corners of the world with annually over 9000 such celebrations held.  One of the best in Florida is presented by the Scottish-American Society of South Florida [SASSF].  I have been and it’s a truly convivial evening–PK.    INFO/TICKETS info see  www.sassf.org.     

► In JANUARY.  The annual Florida Keys Celtic Festival in Marathon . Wear some  tartan and go! The Florida Keys Celtic Festival features family-friendly Celtic rock and Traditional music, Irish & Scottish Dancing, Sheep-dog herding, Pipes and Drums, a Children’s Glen with games, face painting and fun activities, and fabulous Celtic (and Keys) foods and crafts vendors.  Highland Athletics, the original Strongman sport, features a sanctioned Woman’s Highland Athletics Competition and Men’s Highland Athletic Demonstrations.  See www.floridakeyscelticfestival.com  Call [305] 743-6412 

► IN MARCH.  The SOUTH FLORIDA SCOTTISH FESTIVAL and Games is a major all day event attended by thousands of Scots and Wannabe Scots,  English/Irish/Welsh  and American Anglophiles each year.  For details/location/tickets see website www.sassf.org Established by the Scottish-American Society of South Florida [SASSF] in  1983.  OCH AYE.   It’s immense fun—Tartan everywhere, bagpipers, clans, highland dancing competitions, Scottish country dancing, Scottish Heavy Athletics,  professional Scottish entertainers, Clan tents, sheepdog demonstrations, Scottish/Irish/English/Welsh merchandise,  foods and imported beers. Wear Something Tartan and Go! INFO/TICKETS on www.SASSF.org   Call [954] 460-5000

►   Usually every March in Sarasota Area:  The Caledonian Club presents its annual Scottish Thistle Ball. This elegant formal affair will have Scottish entertainment, piping and dancing.  INFO  www.caledonianclub.org   

►    SEPTEMBER or OCTOBER  the  Annual Royal Tartan Ball in Tampa,  for those wanting a fun experience with a Celtic Flair.  For this year’s date and info call David Trick [727] 243-7176 or John Miller [813 ]735-9005

►  DUNEDIN  Annual Scottish Games in April. CURRENT INFO/TICKETS on  www.dunedinhighlandgames.com  

►  JACKSONVILLE AREA annual Scottish games in February. CURRENT INFO/TICKETS on  www.neflgames.com   

MOUNT DORA Annual Scottish Festival, since 2002.   2023 EVENT: FEBRUARY 18 and 19. See www.mountdorascot.com for next year’s details.

 ORLANDO SCOTTISH GAMES every January. See website www.flascot.com Or call Chuck McGrew [407] 682-1238 or Chip Crawford [407] 841-8831

OCALA  SCOTTISH  HIGHLAND GAMES in October.  Call organizer David Martin [352] 454-0672

PALM BEACH  SCOTTISH-AMERICAN SOCIETY  Established  years ago.  Tel. [561] 965-2562 Ask for Winnie.

PANAMA CITY Highland Games in March.  INFO/TICKETS on   www.pbcscotttishfestival.com or Call [850] 769-4000.  

SARASOTA area Scots!   Highland Games February 10, 2024. See website  see www.suncoastscots.com

SARASOTA    Scottish Heritage Society of Sarasota  Call  [941] 342-0509

SARASOTA  The St. Andrews Society for Scots in Florida [941] 722-9840.  Ask for Shirley or see their website www.standrewssocietysarasota.com

TALLAHASSEE SCOTTISH GAMES usually in April. Call President Keith Lindsey [850] 212-2926

TAMPA and DUNEDIN AREA The St. Andrews Society.  Call boardmember and true Scot Fiona Prosser [813] 317-6039.  

NORTHEAST FLORIDA [JACKSONVILLE area]  Scottish Games in February.  Call [904] 725-5744. See website www.neflgames.com 

VENICE West Florida….The Caledonian Club.  For Scots and those with Scottish roots.  Call Pauline Mitchell [941] 485-5199.

►  FT.LAUDERDALE  Highlanders holds Scottish theme events throughout the year. For information call [954] 962-9393 

► THE OFFICIAL BRITISH GOVERNMENT WEBSITE for info on Scotland: www.scotland.gov.uk

TO HIRE A BAGPIPER in South Florida:     1]   Call Scotsman Nigel McDonald [786] 205-5350, an accomplished bagpiper/pipe major who has won many of Florida’s piping competitions and played at droves of weddings and other functions around Ft. Lauderdale/Miami/Palm Beach. 2]  Professional bagpiper Byron Hoffman is also available for South Florida functions. Call [754] 204-0716. 3] The Palm Beach Pipes & Drums have played continuously since 1980 at parades,weddings, funerals, private gigs,memorials and social functions. Contact them also to hire a bagpiper for your events. Call [561] 848-0712,  [561] 308-6216 or [561] 487 6459.

 ►   SCOTTISH FOOTBALL MATCHES–Glasgow Rangers and Celtic.  In Ft. Lauderdale watch Rangers matches at the King’s Head Pub in Sunrise [954] 572-5933  Call Derek Walker of Rangers Supporters Club [954] 296-3374.   Naples   Rangers Supporters Club watch Rangers matches live at the English pub in Naples–call Club secretary Peter  Hull on [239] 404-6137.     Orlando  Rangers Supporters Club gathers at the George  & Dragon pub [407] 351-3578.  A roomful of Scots can’t be dull!  The pub shows all Rangers’s games live. This club just celebrated its 10th anniversary.  INFO Phone Colin Bowman 407-536-9732.     CELTIC:    1]  In Orlando the Celtic Supporters Club watch all Celtic matches live at the Lucky Leprechaun Irish Pub, 7032 International Drive, Orlando.  Call President John Howley on [386] 451 4645.    2] BROWARD CELTIC SUPPORTERS CLUB meets at the Fox and Hounds Pub in Ft. Lauderdale . Call Pub  [954] 491-3697 OR call Club President  John Paton [954] 473-5167

  WELSH JOKE:  Two Texans Rex and Chuck were touring Wales when they came to the town with the world’s longest name.    LLANFAIRPWLLGWNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDROBWLLLLANTYSILIOGOGOGOCH  said the sign.  They argued about how say it.  Stumped. So they went into a local burger place and asked the waitress.
REX:    How do you correctly pronounce the name of this place please?
CHUCK:           Say it really slowly.
WAITRESS:    MAC—-DON—ALDS.

££$$   TIP:  WANT TO SAVE WHEN TRANSFERRING over UK CURRENCY?   DON’T USE YOUR BANK!  Use Moneycorp.  [ I use Moneycorp myself–FABB President.]    TO FIND OUT MORE:    Phone Moneycorp’s Kelly Cutchin on  [863] 207-6616 at their USA HQ in Orlando to ask all your questions.  Or email your query to Kelly Cutchin  kelly.cutchin@moneycorp.com  The pound is unpredictable.  That affects all expats in Florida who still have UK dealings. To transfer your precious funds, we highly recommend you use the services of Moneycorp.  At lower rates than any bank!  This will save you fees and grief, as we Londoners say!  What your own bank won’t do is save considerable  exchange fees, like Moneycorp.   NOW is an advantageous time for you to transfer any funds you have.  THE BEST WAY:   Moneycorp, the UK company with an office in Florida and droves of satisfied Florida clients. It is the only UK currency exchange company licenced to deal in 50 states.   Many expat Brits here have used this currency service for years and report huge savings and satisfaction.   Moneycorp’s HQ is in England.   Posted by the Florida Association of British Business [FABB].  Moneycorp have been trusted members since 2005.  

► ARE YOU A BRIT LIVING IN FLORIDA?  OR UK BRIT WITH PROPERTY THERE?  Sign up for our eBritnews email—invitations to local British events and info relevant to expats.  Send email to  britishbusinessflorida@gmail.com  On subject line put:  Receive Florida eBritnews. IMPORTANT:  Include your Florida city + contact phone.