Scottish Government
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Homecoming 2009 update

An updated Homecoming Scotland guide featuring more than 40 new events was launched at the weekend by First Minister Alex Salmond at the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy.

The 40 page guide showcases the updated list of events taking place throughout Scotland over the rest of 2009.

The 44 new additions include the Edinburgh Mela Festival, Ice Hockey's Homecoming: The Gardiner Cup, and the Clan Cameron Gathering.

All events featured in the guide link in with the key themes of Homecoming - Burns, whisky, golf, great Scottish minds, innovations and ancestry, culture and heritage.

Thousands of Homecomers have already taken part in Homecoming events across Scotland since the programme launched on the weekend around Burns night, with the year's programme now totalling more than 400 events.

Highlights have included record attendances at the Aye Write Book Festival, StAnza International Poetry Festival, the Glasgow International Comedy Festival and most recently the Royal Highland Show.

The FM said:

"2009 is proving to be an exceptional year for Scotland as people from across the world join us for our Homecoming celebrations.

"The third edition of the guide adds 44 new events to the current programme, which already includes world-class gatherings such as The Open Championship and The Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

"I am delighted to be launching this updated events guide at one of the key regional events in the Homecoming calendar, the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.

"The Festival boasts a packed programme of music, dance, food and sport and is just one of more than 400 events across the country that mark Homecoming 2009.

"This latest guide showcases the fantastic array of events and activities taking place that aim to excite and engage everyone who has an affinity for Scotland and entice them to come 'home' and join the celebrations."

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