KENT—A Saturday evening in mid-January is guaranteed to be cold and dark, but inside the Community House, 93 North Main St., January 18 promises light and laughter.
The second annual Scottish Burns Supper is planned for that evening from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the CommUNITY Group, the evening celebrates the January 25 birth date of Robert “Robbie” Burns (1759-1796), widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland.
The evening was inaugurated last year by Gary Kidd, a native of Scotland and co-owner of 45 on Main, a coffee and chocolate shop on Main Street. The event drew hundreds of celebrants in 2024 who whirled and twirled to Scottish reels, as Kidd called the rounds. A haggis was ceremonially piped into the hall behind a bagpiper, Scottish snacks were enjoyed and guests sipped samples of Scottish whiskies.
“We’re very excited to do it again because it went so well last year, right here in the heart of Kent,” said Kidd, who hopes to make the night an annual winter highlight. “There was such a buzz in the room last year, with everyone in tartans, even if it was only a scarf draped over the shoulder to make it a sash.”
Kidd received the Emerging Scot of the Year award on Dec. 5 in Boston from Scots in New England, a community of Scottish organizations and interest groups. The award recognized him for transforming Kent “through vibrant initiatives like hosting a sold-out Burns Supper and teaching ceilidh dancing, bringing Scottish culture to life for all ages.”
“There are a lot of people in New England who have Scots heritage,” he said, “and we want to keep the culture alive.”
Kidd said this year’s Burns Supper will follow much the same format as last year’s but will vary in details. Bagpiper Jesse Ofgang, who has performed a number of times in Kent, will again grace the stage, providing the beat for the dancers, but this year he will be joined by the five-member Sean Heeley Band and a singer.
“We went all out this year,” said Kidd, who said the emphasis will be on getting people out on the dance floor. He will call the dances as he did last year. “Dancey, dancey, dancey will be ringing in everyone’s ears for days after,” he said.
Kidd said that Scottish high school students are required to learn traditional dances “and we hate it. But later you realize who much fun it is. Ceilidh dancing is becoming more popular again.”
He has introduced the traditional reels to students at Marvelwood School in Kent, and the Frederick Gunn School in neighboring Washington, Conn.
As they did last year, Kidd’s mother and father will fly in from Scotland to enjoy the event.
A haggis will again be formally piped into the hall and cut with a sword and at least one of Robert Burns’ poems will be read.
While whisky will be sampled and Scottish snacks will be enjoyed, participants are invited to bring their own beverages and snacks of choice to enjoy during the event.
The evening is open only to persons 21 years of age and older. Tickets at $40 each can be purchased online by clicking here. The event was sold out last year. Early reservations are advised as there is an occupancy limit in the hall and a number of local folks had to be turned away at the door.
