Indulge me in some melodrama. For I am a stranger in a strange land; I’m an exiled Scot! I was born in Edinburgh and went to University in Glasgow. I wore a kilt and ate porridge and och but didnae have a bonnie wee little accent when I was a bairn. Ok, so the strange land is Queen West and while it is sometimes a bit on the strange side, it’s not thaaaat foreign. Or at least I’m used to it by now. But regardless, I was ALL kinds of excited to be invited up to the JW Marriott in Rosseau, Muskoka for their Burns Night weekend this Saturday!

Burns Night is the celebration of Robbie Burns, Scotland’s national poet, held each year around his January 25th birthday. It’s absolutely barking mad, just like the Scots, and I LOVE it. You get together, drink some Whisky, eat haggis, neeps and tatties (or veggie haggis) and say the Ode to the Haggis.  That’s right. You recite poetry to the food. Did I mention this all happens while plenty of whisky is being drunk? And the dancing! These folks make Stripping the Willow look docile but imagine it at warp speed, after a few cocktails. You simply haven’t partied until you’ve ceidleigh danced in 5 inch heels whilst three sheets to the wind. It’s an extreme sport.

I’ve never been to a Canadian hosted Burns night but this weekend promises to be amazing. The Marriott is offering a whole Burns night package which includes staying at the Resort and Spa overnight, the three course Burns dinner, and breakfast in the morning. Plus you get to do all the Burns events throughout the weekend; a snowshoe kilt race, Scotch nosing (that’s booze sampling people) and a performance by something called the Tartan Terrors which I guarantee to photograph and share with the class.

Perhaps like me you can trace your roots back to Loch-Ness Monsterland. Or maybe you want to model yourself after Sex and the City’s Charlotte and Trey? Or even if you just fancy a break from the city in a gorgeous location, you should check out the great rates for this coming weekend. If last minute getawaying isn’t your style, you should still plan a winter mini-break to the Lake Rosseau Marriott. Check out the lush Spa.  Or go Husky sledding, cross country skiing, or partake in some winter astronomy and night skating. It is snowy adventures a go go up there. With whisky and haggis on top. 

 ~ Zoe Shapiro