Burns Night, an evening to recognize the birthday of Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland, will take place on Friday, Jan. 23, at Historic Beale Manor, 200 S. Church St., Parkesburg. The Octorara Covenanter Presbyterian Foundation will host the event.

Burns Night will begin at 6 p.m. with a social time featuring music by fiddler Tom Knapp. Bagpiper Thompson McConnell will also be featured. A traditional haggis ceremony will follow, ending with a toast of Scotch.

Haggis, a traditional Scottish dish, is a type of savory pudding that is made from the heart, lungs and liver of a sheep mixed with beef, oatmeal and seasonings. In addition to the haggis, the homemade supper will include Angus beef; red lentil soup; neeps and tatties, which is mashed potatoes and turnips; salad; trifle, served as individual layered desserts; and other Scottish desserts, including sticky toffee pudding.

"We make some of (the food) ourselves, and Traditions Catering makes some dishes," noted Donna McCool, who co-chairs the annual event alongside John Girvin. "It's a really good meal."

While Burns Night is targeted to the Scottish, it is open to people of all nationalities. "You don't have to be of Scottish heritage to come," McCool explained, noting that 90 people attended last year's event. "If you want to experience a different heritage than yours, it would be a good opportunity to do that."

Visitors are encouraged to get into the spirit of the evening by wearing their tartans, but it is not required. "Tartan is plaid, and different clans have different patterns," McCool explained. "The tartan can be anything - a sash, a scarf, a dress or kilt, or ladies will wear an evening skirt, which is their tartan. Tartan is official; there is a registry for tartans and clans. I wear my grandmother's tartan when I go to Scottish events."

After supper, guests will be invited to honor the life of Burns with speeches, readings and toasts. Local musician Charlie Zahm will present "A Tribute to Robert Burns." Guests will be invited to gather around the piano to sing Burns' songs, including the classic, "Auld Lang Syne."

According to McCool, Burns' poem "Address to a Haggis," written in 1786, popularized dining on haggis. The poem describes the dish's ingredients and praises its flavor and texture. Following the poem's publication, haggis became Scotland's national dish, and the poem is traditionally recited at haggis ceremonies.

The annual Burns Night is a fundraising event to help maintain and preserve historic Octorara Covenanter Presbyterian Church. Located at 1188 Valley Road, Quarryville, the church was originally constructed in 1752 and is considered the oldest Covenanter church in America.

The Octorara Covenanter Presbyterian Foundation held its first Burns Night Celebration in 2018 at the church, but because the event became popular, the foundation changed the location to Beale Manor to accommodate more guests. Proceeds of ticket sales will benefit various ongoing restoration projects and maintenance at Octorara Covenanter Presbyterian Church.

For more information and a link to purchase tickets, visit http://www.covenanterscottishfestival.com or http://www.facebook.com/CovenanterChurch and choose Events. All tickets must be purchased in advance by Monday, Jan. 19. No tickets will be sold at the door.

In the event that enough tickets are not sold or in the case of inclement weather, Burns Night event will be canceled until next year. Cancellation information will be on the Facebook page or website.