As we are thoroughly into yet another Droughtlander, I am wondering what many of you are doing to get through. Starz has yet to send any tidbits out to satiate our hunger and thirst for our most beloved series, so I resort to other means. I begin browsing the internet for anything and everything Outlander. I frequent Etsy shops, peruse family tartans, and pick out what could be my Christmas tree this year – a Fraser fir? Why not? But one thing that has caught my attention is the planned outings and events for the Outlander community for 2017. I have seen that many of you in so many of the social media groups are making plans to travel. And since there is no definitive release date for Season 3, travel may just be what is needed to capture what is missing in this time of famine. Well, travel is the basis of this story, now. Isn’t it?
I’m going to start with an event that is very fast approaching, but tickets are still available. The Thru The Stones event is the “largest Outlander fan convention in the Central United States” and will be in Bettendorf, Iowa, on Dec. 2-3, 2016. Costume designer Terry Dresbach will be speaking Saturday afternoon about her experiences with Outlander. And our dear Rupert, Grant O’Rourke, will speak on Saturday evening. Select guests will have a chance to be seated with each of them for dinner. This looks like a fabulous event with a Scottish themed luncheon and a Parisian themed dinner. And our very own Mary Larsen will be in attendance. So be sure to say hi if you see her!
Novel Adventures
Novel Adventures is a fascinating group. In their own words, one can “take an adventure where you become the main character in the story of a lifetime, a tour where your favorite book becomes the basis of your vacation! You will walk in the footsteps of your heroes and villains, and prevail with your own tale to tell. Each tour is customized to please the laidback style or even the most adventurous of travelers. We will customize your trip to travel independently or organize you with a group – whichever is your preference.” They have had several tours already, and are working on more for 2017, starting in April.
Voyager Cruise, April 3-8, 2017
How about a cruise? April 3-8 there will be a Voyager-inspired cruise on the Royal Caribbean Cruise lines. It is a five-night cruise that includes stops in Haiti and Jamaica. They are also advertising the appearance of special guest(s), pending confirmation and scheduling. Wonder who they may be Sounds like current cast members possibly! I guess we will find out.
Magic Con, April 21-23, 2017
The weekend of April 21-23 will be a busy one for Outlander fans, with two events available for fans on either side of the Atlantic. First, Graham McTavish will be in attendance at Magic Con, held in Bonn, Germany. Magic Con will have appearances by stars from several movies and series, some of which include Lord of The Rings, Outlander and Game of Thrones, to name a few. Although I have never personally been to any of the “Cons,” there are autograph sessions, workshops, panels and other opportunities to meet stars of your favorite shows/movies. (Graham will be at NYC Comic Con happening October 5-8 as well.)
Outlander Weekend #1 2017, April 21-23, 2017
The second event happening on April 21-23 is the Outlander Weekend #1 2017. Heading out to Grover, North Carolina, might make you feel like Claire in the series when she gets to the colonies. This seems to be geared more toward the historical aspect of the series. Hosted at The Inn of the Patriots Bed and Breakfast, some of the events include an Outlandish reception on Friday night, making and sampling some Scottish cuisine, hiking and a scotch tasting. What makes this weekend different from some of the others is they have a prayer for the Battle of Culloden, and a rifle and musket shooting demonstration. A little something for everyone.
Pure Outlander Tour, May 4-14, 2017
Novel Tours also has a Pure ‘Outlander’ trip from May 4-14. This trip will have you traveling from Edinburgh to Inverness to Glasgow with a private guide. You will visit more than 20 Outlander locations with all entry tickets included. Other activities are included in this trip, and it actually looks like it’s a trip that is manageable by the average traveler. While this trip does not advertise meeting any stars, who knows what might be around any given corner or glen. Remember when checking out this deal that air transport is not included in the price listed.
Outlander in The City, June 3, 2017
A Gathering on the Ridge, July 5-9, 2017
Staying with the adventures provided by Novel Tours, we move into July with a stateside event is going on for 5 days and 4 nights (July 5-9). Held at The Mast Farm Inn in North Carolina, this event concentrates on the Drums of Autumn book in the series. It will include special guest performance by Seven Nations. These guys are great! They are a modern Celtic band that have been hailed as being the band that has taught people that “bagpipes rock.” A cooking demonstration from the award-winning book Outlander Kitchen will be presented by Alisa Hinton. There will be several events during this outing where there is something for everyone, including, but not limited to, going to the Highland games, hiking and whisky tasting.
Starfury: The Highlanders 2, Aug. 25-27, 2017
