A fun-filled time is planned at Lyon College in Batesville this weekend as Lyon once again combines its Arkansas Scottish Festival with homecoming for one big weekend-long celebration, ScotsFest, from Oct. 27 to 29 on the Lyon College campus in Batesville.
Kenton Adler (pictured below), Lyon College’s director of development for Scottish heritage, recently visited with Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ’s Wes Gwaltney on his Slightly Scrambled morning show about this weekend’s festivities. Listen to their conversation below.
The Arkansas Scottish Festival began in 1979 as a small fair on the campus’s intramural field as a way to pay homage to the Scottish heritage of the college’s Presbyterian founders. It has grown into one of the premier festivals in Arkansas and one of the most prominent festivals in the United States for honoring Scottish heritage and traditions.
This is the 43rd year of the Arkansas Scottish Festival, and the third year the festival will be combined with the Lyon College homecoming.
Last year, the event drew more than 5,500 festival-goers and generated an estimated $1.2 million in economic impact to Independence County.
Presented by Lyon College and lead partner, Experience Independence, ScotsFest will feature several new events this year, including a vintage swap meet, a comedy show featuring “America’s Got Talent” alumnus Cam Bertrand, a free rocket-building workshop, and performances by the Piper Jones Band and Celtic musician Misty Posey.
ScotsFest will open at noon on Friday, with a food truck fair, vendors, and Scottish clan exhibitions. Featured entertainers in the Ozark Beer Co. entertainment tent on Friday include third-generation Arkansas musician Garrett Duncan and his wife, Ashton, at 4 p.m.; popular central Arkansas country rock band Drasco at 6 p.m.; and award-winning Arkansas bluegrass band The Gravel Yard at 8 p.m.
A variety of homecoming events are planned for Friday, including open classes, a Founders’ Day choir reunion, a Founders’ Day convocation, and an alumni and friends awards celebration and social. (For more information on the alumni events, contact Lyon College executive director of alumni engagement Cindy Barber at Cindy.Barber@lyon.edu.)
“We look forward to welcoming alumni back to campus all year long, but there’s nothing like the reunions and fun during ScotsFest,” Barber said. “Just follow the sounds of the bagpipes.”
On Saturday, Oct. 28, the festival will get underway at 8 a.m. with historical reenactments by MacLachlan’s Jacobite Highlanders and Colonel Munro’s 37th Regiment of Foot, a Highland heavy athletics competition, Scottish clan reunions, sheep dog demonstrations, rocket demonstrations, pipe band exhibitions, Highland dancing, a British car show, the Li’l Highlanders Fun Zone, and entertainment throughout the day featuring Celtic songstress Posey.
A vintage swap meet is set from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center in Becknell Gymnasium. The student-led event will showcase the best in vintage toys, sports memorabilia, fashion, crafts, collectibles, jewelry, artwork, and culture. Proceeds from a $3 admission to the swap meet benefit Lyon College student organizations. Vendor booth spaces, which include a table and two chairs, are available for $100 each. All proceeds benefit the Lyon College Art Club. There also will be a silent auction benefiting Lyon College student organizations. Admission to the swap meet is $5, which benefits the art club. (To register a booth, please contact Pam Palermo at Pamela.Palermo@lyon.edu., or click here.)
Scroll down for more information about the 2023 ScotsFest.
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Alumna Martha Thompson Bowman is the featured artist for 2023 ScotsFest.
Bowman (pictured below) will not only headline the ScotsFest art show. She will serve as a vendor, offering her artwork, jewelry, trivets, and flower pots at the festival. Her participation promises to be a highlight of ScotsFest, showcasing the exceptional talent and multifaceted achievements of Lyon College’s talented alumni.
Bowman is a licensed mental health counselor, licensed addictions counselor, certified eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapist, certified EMDR consultant, and music therapist. She is also an artist, singer/songwriter, and former magazine publisher.
“We are thrilled to have Martha as the featured artist at ScotsFest this year,” said Cindy Barber, executive director of alumni engagement. “Her journey from Lyon College through her diverse career path exemplifies the spirit of exploration and creativity that we strive to instill in all our students. We eagerly anticipate her homecoming and the opportunity for our current students to be inspired by her remarkable accomplishments.”
Bowman started art lessons in oil painting in second grade while growing up in 29 Palms, Cal. Her family moved from the southern California desert to the Ozarks when she was starting eighth grade. She graduated from Salem High School in 1983 and then attended Lyon College, where she graduated with a degree in media arts and music in 1988. While in college, she was active in varied artistic endeavors, including photography, choir, and band. She also worked for The Batesville Guard.
After graduating, Bowman further ventured into the field of journalism, contributing to multiple newspapers including a notable period as the managing editor of a daily newspaper in Winchester, Ind., and later as a writer for a publication in Batesville, Ind. Her writing skills were further exemplified during her tenure at The Herald Bulletin in Anderson, Ind., where she honed her craft for over a decade.
In 2004, Bowman’s passion for psychology and counseling led her to pursue a master’s degree in psychology and counseling from Ball State University in 2006. With a subsequent degree in music therapy, Bowman showcased her dedication to aiding others through her wide-ranging expertise.
Her artistic prowess expanded beyond traditional forms of expression as she discovered the art of paint pouring, culminating in an exquisite collection that gained recognition in the Brown County Backroads Artist Tour, where she opened her home studio for tours in 2021 and 2022.
Her artwork, ranging from traditional paintings to innovative creations such as wearable and functional art, has been featured prominently in businesses throughout Nashville, Ind., contributing to the vibrant arts community that draws 3 to 4 million people each fall. Notably, Bowman’s commitment to her craft has led her to repurpose various items, transforming everyday objects such as flower pots, vases, and small tables into stunning pieces of art.
“It is a great honor to be chosen as the Scots Fest featured artist this year,” Bowman said, reflecting on her time at Lyon College. “My years at Lyon College were some of the best years of my life, and I treasure my memories there. It is a beautiful gift to participate in Scots Fest this year.”
Lyon College Professor of Art Dustyn Bork, who organizes the ScotsFest art exhibition, said Bowman’s artistic journey is a testament to the transformative power of creative exploration.
“This is a great opportunity to celebrate the creative achievements of our alumni and an excellent showcase for our current students to see what a creative practice can look like beyond art studies,” said Bork.
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The Ozark Beer Co. entertainment tent will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with entertainment throughout the day, featuring popular Celtic performers, the Piper Jones Band, a trio that maintains a musical base in traditional tunes from Scotland, Ireland, and Appalachia.
There will be a band and clan march-past followed by opening ceremonies at 12 p.m. with a mass pipe band concert in the Couch Garden. Afternoon and evening special events include a dog show, sheep dog demonstrations, and a feast and ceilidh.
Homecoming events on Saturday include a tailgate event, pep rally, student organization reunions, alumni ball games, and alumni and friends meet-and-greets.
In Saturday’s homecoming match-up, the Lyon College Scots soccer teams will take on Webster University, with the women’s match at 1 p.m. and the men’s match at 3 p.m. on Huser Field on the Lyon College campus.
At 9 p.m., there will be a free comedy show featuring popular comedian Cam Bertrand, who became famous for his TikTok account featuring standup comedy videos and his appearance on “America’s Got Talent.”
The festival opens at 8 a.m. on Sunday and includes historical reenactments, sheep dog demonstrations, Highland dancing, and a Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan worship service at 11 a.m. in the entertainment tent.
At 1 p.m., there will be a bonniest knees contest followed by the Kilted Fun Run for adults, students, and children. Kilted Fun Run registration is $25 for adults and $10 for students and children. (Below are images from a previous year’s run.)
Homecoming events on Sunday include a Club 50 celebration for those who have been alumni for over 50 years at noon in the Maxfield Room of Edwards Common, with the class of 1973’s induction into society.
The festival closes at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
“Lyon College is honored to be a part of the rich tapestry of Arkansas’s cultural heritage, and the Arkansas Scottish Festival stands as a testament to our commitment to preserving and sharing these traditions,” said Dr. David Hutchison, vice president for advancement. “Through music, dance, and the vibrant display of Scottish culture, the Arkansas Scottish Festival demonstrates the power of community and the enduring partnership between Lyon College and our surrounding region”
General admission to the festival is free, though some individual and alumni events require a separate registration.
The full schedule can be seen at arscottishfest.com.
All images: Lyon College
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