The Octorara Covenanter Presbyterian Foundation will host its annual Burns Night Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 1, at Beale Manor, 200 S. Church St., Parkesburg. The event will take place from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., and the price of admission will include live entertainment, food and drinks that are unique to Scottish culture.

When guests arrive at Beale Manor, they will hear the distinct sound of a bagpipe ringing through the halls of the historic home. Bagpiper Tyler Destremps will continue to perform until all guests have arrived, and the celebration will kick off with a social time and a second musical performance by fiddler Tom Knapp.

After Destremps and Knapp set the tone for the evening with traditional Scottish compositions, Charlie Zahm will lead a haggis ceremony. The time-honored ritual will include a tasting of haggis, a savory dish that is made using the heart, lungs and liver of a sheep. The meat is minced with chopped onion, oatmeal, suet and a medley of spices and broth, and ingredients are customarily cooked inside the sheep's stomach. In addition to offering a tasting of haggis, Zahm will discuss the cultural significance of the Scottish delicacy. The ceremony will conclude with a tasting of Scottish whiskey.

Although haggis has been enjoyed in the United Kingdom since the 15th century, the meal was made popular by "Address to a Haggis," a poem that Burns published in 1786. In Burns' poem, he describes the ingredients of haggis and marvels at its image and flavor. Shortly after "Address to a Haggis" was published, the dish became officially designated as the national dish of Scotland, and the poem is typically recited during a haggis ceremony.

A supper buffet will be served after the haggis ceremony. Food options will include haggis, Angus beef, red lentil soup, salad and trifle, as well as neeps and tatties, a dish made from mashed turnips and potatoes.

After supper, attendees will be invited to commemorate Burns' life with toasts, speeches and readings of the poet's works. Charlie Zahm will present "A Tribute to Robert Burns," a show that will incorporate Burns' writing and traditional Scottish music. As the evening concludes, Zahm will invite guests to encircle a piano and sing Burns' songs together.

"I think people with Scottish heritage enjoy celebrating it, but that's not to say (Burns Night) is not open to everybody," said Donna McCool, who co-chairs the annual event alongside John Girvin. "You don't need to have Scottish ancestors to participate, and Beale Manor is a fabulous venue. Anyone who wants to learn more about others' culture is welcome."

In 2018, the Octorara Covenanter Presbyterian Foundation held its inaugural Burns Night Celebration at Octorara Covenanter Presbyterian Church in Quarryville. The event quickly became popular in the local community; after the first year, the foundation changed the location to Beale Manor to accommodate the large number of guests who wished to attend. Proceeds of ticket sales will benefit various ongoing restoration projects and maintenance at Octorara Covenanter Presbyterian Church. Last year, the money raised by Burns Night helped to repair damage caused by a bat infestation in the old church.

To purchase a ticket, visit https://tinyurl.com/burnsnight2025.