BIG KIC Festival, as one of the major festivals in the North Lanarkshire calendar and Kilsyth’s most eagerly anticipated community event, is set to be the event of the summer with the biggest and best programme yet.
Running from Wednesday 11th August to Sunday 15th August, the BIG KIC Festival, which incorporates the popular Kilsyth International Carnival, is set to attract a record number of visitors with an expanded programme spanning five days.
Major events will take place in Colzium Estate from 13th-15th August, transforming the site into a leafy playground of music, dance, comedy, circus, food and drink with a striking 1200 capacity Big Top in place to provide shelter from the shining sun.
Dance Events at KICS
Kilsyth’s biggest festival kicks off in style with Teenage KICS dance competition on 13th August, allowing non-professional teenage dance troupes from around Scotland the chance to compete for prizes and perform on the Big Top stage in front of hundreds of spectators. Special guests will close the competition with high energy professional dance performances.
Comedy Events at KICS
Preceding this will be Comedy KICs at the Coachman Hotel on 11th and 12th August, featuring some of the best Scottish and International comic talent fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe. A special Kids Comedy Club will also take place on 12th August for young comedy fans aged 8-12.
Headlining Comedy KICS on 13th August is none other than local comedy legend and BBC Radio Scotland stalwart, Fred MacAulay, who will treat audiences to his massively popular brand of caustic sarcasm and observational humour under the canopy of the Big Top in Colzium Estate. Support from Stu Who? will open the show.
Clan KICS takes place in Colzium Estate on Saturday 14th August as a celebration of Scottish traditions and Celtic culture. Visitors to the estate can take part in the Clanranald Heritage Trail with Roman encampments, medieval tents, weaponry displays, demonstrations and workshops, allowing guests to see, hear and even smell what life was like in Scotland, and perhaps in Colzium Estate back in historical times.
Ceilidh band competitions will take place in the Big Top where spectators are invited to come help judge the bands by voting with their feet. Market stalls, a funfair, hog roasts and other food and drink stalls will also be open throughout the day.
Closing Clan KICS is a special concert performance from Latino-Scottish fusion band, Salsa Celtica, whose stunning combination of virtuosity and energy has made them one of the most exciting groups on the world music circuit today. With a line up combining some of Scotland’s and Ireland’s most exiting traditional musicians with a stellar group of world, jazz and salsa musicians from the UK and Latin America, this is a unique experience not to be missed!
Kilsyth International Carnival
Closing the BIG KIC festival on 15th August is the ever popular Kilsyth International Carnival which will provide the perfect end-of-summer celebration on the eve of the return to school. Spanning two outdoor stages and the weather proofed Big Top, Carnival will be a multi-cultural celebration of music, dance and performance with funfair rides, market stalls, food and drink combining to offer the perfect family fun day out.
Rob Kay, Business Director for BIG KIC said: “We are delighted to be launching BIG KIC in 2010 with a programme that not only includes the much loved Kilsyth International Carnival, but offers a greater variety of fun and affordable activities to residents of North Lanarkshire.”
“It’s an eclectic mix with something for everyone. The festival will bring the best in cultural entertainment and community spirit to residents of and visitors to Kilsyth promising a great day out for all the family.”
Additional community events, workshops, talks and tours will take place in venues around the Kelvin Valley during the BIG KIC festival period and will be announced over coming months.
For full festival programme, details and tickets visit www.kic.me.uk