MARQUETTE, Mich.—To honor Scottish poet Robert Burns’ birthday, the Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University will host a traditional Burns Supper on Friday, Jan. 25. The event will also serve as a fundraiser for the center’s Folk in Schools Initiative, which sends U.P. folk artists to school districts throughout the region for performances and workshops.

The Burns Supper begins at 6 p.m. in the Great Lakes Rooms of the University Center. Tickets for the buffet dinner and entertainment are $45. Advance reservations are required by Tuesday, Jan. 22, and can be made at www.regonline.com/2013burnssupper.

Appreciation groups established the Burns Supper tradition in the 19th century as a way to celebrate, and even take jibes at, Scotland’s national poet. The affair is both a solemn and jovial event full of poetry, speeches, good humor, music, dance, drink and food. The Beaumier Center will not only celebrate Burns and the people of Scotland, but also the world of poetry, music and dance.

The menu will feature the required haggis, along with arran potato salad, cock-a-leekie soup, spicy Scottish meatloaf, salmon with tarragon, neeps and tatties, cauliflower and whisky cheeses, onion bannocks, Scottish trifle and coffee or tea. A cash bar will be available.

Several individuals will lend their talents to the event. Chet Defonso will serve as chairman. Gregor MacGregor and Pierce Huxtable will play bagpipes, with MacGregor also delivering “an address to the haggis.” Speakers include Alec Lindsay, Ray Ventre and Shelley Russell. Poetry will be recited by Rachel DeRosie, Laurel Mills, Beverly Matherne and David Wood. Musicians for the evening are Barb Rhyneer, Tim Demarte and Tim Clancy. Dancing will be performed by Miran and Kira Olson, while singing duties will be shared by Huxtable, Dan Truckey and Paul Truckey.