Home                The Highland Caravan The Highland Caravan is a day-long cultural event being put on by the Antigonish Highland Society. It will happen on August 20, 2011, and take the form of a tour of local communities that were founded by Scottish pioneers in the 18th and 19th centuries. At each stop along the way there will be historical and cultural presentations that will follow chronologically from life in the Highlands of Scotland prior to the Highland Clearances and to the life experience of Scottish immigrants to Nova Scotia and that of their descendants. Two coach buses will be provided to transport participants in this "pioneer caravan". From the first presentation at St. Francis Xavier University, to other stops in Lismore, Knoydart, Arisaig, Antigonish, St. Andrew's, Loch Katrine and St. Joseph's, participants will ride in comfort and will disembark to spend approximately an hour at each locale, with the exception of the final stop on the program at St. Joseph's. This stop will include a dinner and ceilidh. After the ceilidh, the buses will return to Antigonish town and let their passengers off at the StFX campus. The Highland Caravan is a 150th anniversary project of the Highland Society. Its purpose is to bring to life the history and culture of the original pioneers to this area of Nova Scotia. A total of eight professional and amateur historians will address participants during the day, giving insight into the life of the women and men who were the ancestors of the majority of the population who call Antigonish home. Cultural presentations on the music, dance, food and other activities of the Highland Scots will also be held at most of the caravan stops. PRICES: Tickets for the The Highland Caravan can be purchased from the Highland Society office. Participants who plan to make use of the tour bus will pay a modest $25 for a seat on one of the buses. Other participants can follow the bus by car or join the caravan at specific stops of their choosing. The cost of the dinner is $15 and admission to the ceilidh is $5. A full day ticket (tour, dinner and ceilidh) can be purchased for $40.   TIME VENUE AND COMMUNITY HISTORICAL TOPIC CULTURAL TOPIC OR DISPLAY 8:45am   Hall of the Clans, Angus L. MacDonald Library StFX University   The life of the Highlander in 17th and 18th century Scotland   Photographs of the Highlands   10:30am   St. Mary's Parish Hall Lismore   1740-1800 The Highland Clearances and the immigrant experience   Map showing immigration patterns (where pioneer families originated and where they settled locally)   11:45am   Culloden Cairn Knoydart   The Scottish soldiers and immigrants commemorated by the cairn   Piper's lament   12:30pm   St. Margaret of Scotland Church and Cemetery Arisaig   1800-1840 The immigrant experience, life on the shore   Gravestone rubbing Piping tradition of Arisaig families   2:00pm   Antigonish Heritage Museum Antigonish   1840-1880 The Gael Comes in from the Shore - the settling and growth of inland communities   Historical display (artifacts)   3:15pm   St. Andrew's Parish Church St. Andrew's   1880-1939 The life of Highland women in Nova Scotia; the cooperative movement   Gaelic singing   5:00pm Kings United Church Loch Katrine 1800-present The faith tradition followed in this isolated Scottish community   Milling frolic Traditional food   7:00pm   St. Joseph's Community Centre St. Joseph's A traditional meal with ceilidh to follow Step-dancing