Weekend Écossais de Port-Brillet

The Scottish Weekend: Scotland visits Mayenne

Every year in March, the small town of Port-Brillet, in Mayenne, adorns itself with the colors of Scotland for a festive and exotic weekend. Organized by the association Les Brillet-pontins Ensemble, the Weekend Écossais transports residents and visitors to the heart of Celtic traditions, with music, dance, gastronomy, and conviviality.

The ceilidh: the Scottish ball for everyone

The highlight of the weekend, the ceilidh is a traditional Scottish ball open to all, whether experienced dancers or beginners. Marge Chesnais guides participants through the steps of Scottish dances and rounds, while bagpiper Arnaud Béchet accompanies each figure with the sound of the bagpipes.

• Traditional Scottish dances accessible to all levels.
• Live bagpipe music throughout the evening.
• Interludes of storytelling, dance, or music between dance sets.

A meal with Scottish flavors

The weekend is also an opportunity to discover Scottish gastronomy through a carefully prepared themed meal:

• Scotch broth: traditional lamb and vegetable soup.
• Cullen skink: smoked haddock chowder, a specialty from northeastern Scotland.
• Vegetarian Scotch broth for non-carnivorous guests.
• Dundee cake: a typical fruitcake from the city of Dundee.

A convivial and unifying event

The Weekend Écossais de Port-Brillet illustrates the associative vitality of small towns in Mayenne. The association Les Brillet-pontins Ensemble mobilizes volunteers and residents to create a unique moment of intercultural sharing in the department. The event attracts a loyal audience each year, seduced by the originality of the offering and the warmth of the welcome.