Glenorchy celebrates region's Scottish roots

Glenorchy will celebrate its Scottish roots this weekend.

Highland-style games, whisky tasting, haggis, ''tatties and neeps'' will feature in Glenorchy this weekend, during a Scottish-themed Great Glenorchy Getaway Day, celebrating the region's heritage.

Mrs Woolly's General Store general manager Debbie Crompton said many of Glenorchy's early families hailed from Scotland.

''When we asked the community for suggestions to bring our Scottish heritage theme to life, they weren't slow in coming forwards.

''As a result, we've scheduled a great day packed with traditional Scottish games, food, music, rituals, workshops and great deals.''

The store would be getting a tartan makeover for Saturday's events and guests were encouraged to wear their ''Scottish finest''. There will be prizes for the best dressed and most creative tartans.

Planned Highland-style games were designed to test ''strength, creativity, teamwork and skill''. There will be prizes for the winners of a ''gigantic'' tug of war, hammer toss, caber toss and gumboot throw in various age and gender groups.

There would also be a piping in of the haggis, a reading of Robbie Burns' poem Tam o'Shanter and a celebration of World Whisky Day with a competitive tasting of the finest whiskies from New Zealand and Scotland.

Free workshops were also planned - they would include ''Top Ten Tips for Tiny Houses'', by Jim Nicol of Queenstown's Modbox Ltd, which would feature a tiny house on wheels; ''How to Find Your Roots'', by Edith McKay, of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists, who would explore the Scottish roots in the area; and a children's rock painting workshop while parents went on a ''sneak peak'' tour of Camp Glenorchy, featuring the nearly-complete Scheelite Campfire Shelter designed and built by Glenorchy artist Dan Kelly; the South Island's largest solar garden; and braided river stone mosaic pathways designed and built by landscape artist Jeffrey Bale.

Visitors would also get a peek at the new cabins and the early stages of the Commons Building.

tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz