Join us for the Celtic Heritage Alliance Burns Supper
We’re looking forward to the 2025 McMinnville Scottish Festival, but if you’re anything like us, you’d like to experience a little bit of Scotland before October! Join us for our annual Burns Supper in honor of the late poet Robert Burns on Saturday, January 25th, 2025 from 6PM – 9PM. Taking place in the historic McMinnville Grand Ballroom, located at 325 NE 3rd St, McMinnville, Oregon. There is elevator service to the ballroom near the back entrance to the building (4th Street side). The evening will be filled with fellowship and camaraderie and will include a traditional Scottish 5-course dinner, poetry readings, music, and many toasts to celebrate the Bard. We will also have a no-host bar, raffle and dessert auction. You may purchase tickets a la carte, at $80/pp, or reserve whole tables (seating for 8), at $600 per table. Formal attire encouraged but not required. Event is for 21+ only. This is certain to be a wonderful night, we hope that you can join us!
McMinnville Scottish Festival .. We’re putting the “Mac” back in McMinnville
McMinnville has grown to be an internationally recognized city in the heart of Willamette Valley known best for its small town main street, and its place in the rich Willamette Valley wine industry, early UFO sightings, and the resting place of the Hercules (Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose).
With all this attention it seems few have pondered why it bears the name of McMinnville? Did anyone of importance in city history have that name? Are there Scottish or Irish roots?
As it turns out, no one in the city’s history was named McMinnville. The city’s founder William T. Newby (1820–1884), an early immigrant on the Oregon Trail, named the city after his hometown McMinnville, Tennessee. He must have cared for his home quite a bit to establish a city across the country with the same name.
McMinnville does indeed have Scottish roots; however, McMinnville, Tennessee was named after Governor Joseph McMinn (1758-1824). His grandfather, Robert McMinn (1690-1757) emigrated from his home in Perth, Scotland, to make a home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
By importing the name of his hometown, William Newby intentionally, or unintentionally, brought a bit of Scotland to our city, McMinnville.
The Celtic Heritage Alliance builds on that Scottish connection and brings the “Mac” back in McMinnville with the McMinnville Scottish Festival! Join us October 4th and 5th, 2025 at the Yamhill County Fairgrounds.
