You'll soon Gather it's a big event

The parade is just one small part of the Gathering – the centrepiece to 2009's Homecoming Year, a 12-month celebration of Scots and their achievements worldwide. And while folk from 34 countries are expected to take part in the two-day festivities this weekend, organisers say the vast majority of the estimated 50,000 set to descend on Holyrood Park will be from Scotland and its neighbours.

Co-director of the Gathering Lord Jamie Sempill explains: "This is not just a gathering of clans from across the world, this is a celebration of our culture that families from across Scotland can enjoy too, and this is reflected in the activities and events in Holyrood Park, which will appeal to all ages."

So what will be on offer that's likely to appeal to Edinburgh citizens, rather than starry-eyed Americans?

First, say organisers, is the clan village, made up of 125 marquees already springing up behind Holyrood Palace. The clan village is open from 9am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday, and entry is included in the ticket price.

Jenny Gilmour, also co-director of the Gathering, explains: "Locals can wander in and find out what clan they are, meet their clan chief and find out more about their clan history."

She adds: "The genealogy and cultural resource centre, Scotland Lives, offers visitors the chance to talk to genealogists about how to find out about their ancestors. The experts have access to a huge source of information – old registers, electoral rolls and church records – and can do computer searches to get people started."

Another highlight is the Deuchars World Highland Games Heavy Events Championship, which takes place between 10:30am and 5pm on both days. Visitors can watch the world's top 11 heavy athletes compete across eight core disciplines, including tossing the caber and tug-of-war.

Meanwhile children can compete in a mini Highland games event between 10:30am and 5pm on both days, or can help put together a huge jigsaw of Scotland, which will create the largest Ordnance Survey map of the country – measuring 20m by 15m – from 9am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Also on offer for the little ones is country dancing, which takes place at various times on both days.

The park will host 200 marquees covering 8,000 square metres at the family event, with three stages showcasing at least ten pipe bands and more than 400 Highland dancers from around the globe.

Bringing a modern element to Scottish culture will be the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who will perform on the main stage from 3:30pm to 4:30pm on Saturday, and 11am to noon on the same stage on Sunday.

Musician Dougie MacLean will entertain the crowds on Sunday from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, followed by Capercaillie between 2pm and 3pm.

The event will also feature pipe band performances from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Canada, as well as Scottish bands including the Caledonian Pipe Band. Pipe Idol will take place at various times on Sunday and will see eight competitors under the age of 25 battle it out in a piping competition.

The international best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith will also be chatting about his books, including The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, in the Scotland Lives Auditorium on Sunday afternoon.

Diana Gabaldon, another international best-selling author, who wrote the Outlander series, will chat to visitors on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Visitors are urged to register online (www.clangathering.org) for both talks to ensure a place.

Following Saturday's clan parade, a historic pageant called "Aisling's Children; Tales of the Homecoming" will tell the dramatic story of Scotland's history through a specially written theatrical show with narrative, dance and music. The show, which was written by Edinburgh's Raymond Ross, will take place at the Castle Esplanade between 10pm and 11pm on Saturday.

The dress rehearsal for the pageant has been opened up to the public and will take place at Edinburgh Castle on Friday from 10pm to 11pm. Tickets can be bought at www.hubtickets.co.uk.

And while the whole event has taken something of a battering over the past few months – singer-songwriter Jim Diamond and indie band the Noisettes cancelled and a cut-price ticket to boost sales was introduced – organisers are confident those coming along will not be disappointed in any way.

Miss Gilmour said: "This event is a historic event that is bringing together Scots from all around the world to our capital city. It's a fantastic event for everyone to take part in and we would encourage people to come along and be a part of history."

The Highland Games and Scottish Festival Ticket provides access to all the events taking place in Holyrood Park. A one-day ticket can be bought for 15 for adults and 10 for concessions. A two-day ticket will cost adults 27 and concessions 18.

The Gathering 2009 Passport is an all-inclusive ticket that provides entry to both days of the Highland Games and Scottish Festival in Holyrood Park, as well as a place in the clan parade and a seat on the Castle Esplanade for Aisling's Children; Tales of the Homecoming. Prices range from 88 to 110 depending on where you are seated.

A 55 ticket, which provides access to Holyrood Park on Saturday only and the pageant, is also available.

For tickets visit www.clangathering.org/content/tickets.html

Spot the eagle feathers and you spot the chiefs

Lord Jamie Sempill, co-director of the Gathering, is one of about 100 clan chiefs in Scotland and 140 worldwide.

He inherited the title of "Chief of the name and arms of Sempill" and is also a member of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

However, Lord Sempill says the Sempills are not a clan, but rather a family.

He explains: "The Sempills are not a clan as the McGregors are for example. Sempill is a family, not a clan, and I am the head of the family that carries that name."

The 60-year-old became the 21st Lord Sempill in 1996, his family having inherited the title five centuries earlier, in 1485. As part of that title, the father-of-two had a seat in the House of Lords for four years until the first stage of its reform in 1999.

While Lord Sempill said his title of clan chief does not involve any particular roles, over the past two years he has been busy promoting the Gathering. "I have been to North America about eight times, Australia twice and New Zealand once promoting the event," he explains. "It has been my responsibility to drum up support."

While fulfilling his role as clan chief at this weekend's event, what will he be wearing? He says: "I'll be wearing a kilt with the Sempill tartan, which is mainly dark green, and a jacket and a bonnet. "There's nothing that would particularly differentiate me from other people wearing kilts and jackets, apart from clan chiefs being entitled to wear three eagle feathers in our bonnets."

And what does he think of the view that many Americans taking part in the Gathering have no clue about Scotland?

He says: "These people have a very strong affinity – nearly an umbilical cord – to Scotland. Their knowledge of the history of Scotland is very good, but their knowledge about contemporary Scotland is weak."