The longest running Games in Massachusetts will be held Saturday, June 28, 2008. in Greenfield, MA. The Western Massachusetts Highland Games and Celtic Festival has been an annual event since 1993.
Known as the Home of the New England Scottish Hammer Throw Championship, this years' Games promises to be especially grand. The entertainment is top-notch: Prydein, a perennial favorite, is back to rock the Games. A special treat is in store for those of us who have been waiting for Neil Anderson and Rathkeltair to return to the Highland Games circuit. Neil has been serving in Iraq for the last two Games seasons, and will be performing with his band Rathkeltair, this year, as well as presenting a bagpiping workshop. He has also been chosen as the Chieftain of the Games for 2008.
Also scheduled for performances are local fiddler Katherine First, performing with Max Cohen and friends, the Pioneer Valley Harpers Guild, and the Celtic Dance Troupe Emerald Road Dancers.
The Patron of the Western Mass. Highland Games, Chief Steven MacTavish of Dunardry and his lovely wife Leslie, will also be in attendance at the Games.
A complete schedule of events for the 2008 Western Mass. Highland Games and Celtic Festival is available here (PDF). You may find directions to the Games here.
While you are at the Games, make sure you stop by the Clan Mackintosh tent and say hi to Ray McHatton. Ray is the Northeast Representative for Clan Mackintosh and always loves to meet new people and possible "cousins" at his tent.
Slainte,
Dianne
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Western Mass Highland Games and Celtic Festival
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Rhode Island Scottish Highland Festival
The Rhode Island Scottish Highland Festival is being held this Saturday, May 17, 2008. This year they are celebrating their 10th anniversary.
This year's scheduled performers are:
ALASDAIR FRASER and NATALIE HAAS
CHARLIE ZAHM
CELTIC HARP CIRCLE
RATHKELTAÍR
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCERS
A special event this year is a fiddle workshop with Alasdair Fraser. Learn more about that here.
Visit the Rhode Island Scottish Highland Festival website here.
More Highland Games events can be found on the Highland Games Calendar, located at the top of the Links column on this page.
Slainte,
Dianne
Monday, May 5, 2008
A Primer For Your First Highland Games
The first time you attend a Highland Games or Scottish Festival you will be delighted and inspired by the sights and sounds that accompany such a gathering. Delighted and inspired, but maybe not as prepared as you would like to be.
Highland gatherings are different from any other type of outdoors event, and as such require a different sort of preparation.
The verra canny folks over at Clan Cunningham have compiled a comprehensive list of FAQ's for the first-timers.
It's a readable, practical and good-humored approach to your first Highland Games.
You can read it here.
Moran Taing to Clan Cunningham.
Slainte,
Dianne
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Celebration of Celts Festival of Music, Dance & History
If you should fancy a drive to New York this weekend, May 3rd and May 4th, you should visit the Celebration of Celts Festival. Held at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham, NY, this is a two-day event celebrating not only the Celts but the fifth anniversary of the festival in 2008.
This year's entertainment features the Barra MacNeils and Enter the Haggis, along with several other top-notch performers.
The pipe competition looks like a hoot; check out "Piping Outside the Box".
Their website has a page devoted to the history of Heavy Athletics here.
Click here for their fabulous article on the East Coast Celts (US).
The festival flyer can be downloaded (PDF) here.
Visit the website of the Celebration of Celts Festival.
You can find other New England Highland Games and Festivals by clicking the Highland Games Calendar link located at the top of the Links column.
Slainte,
Dianne
Friday, April 4, 2008
The Games Season Is Upon Us
Well, folks, it's that time of year again. The Northeast Highland Games Season begins this weekend (April 5 & 6, 2008) with the Indoor Scottish Festival in Concord, New Hampshire. This event is sponsored by the New Hampshire School of Scottish Arts. This wonderful school has over 200 students enrolled in classes for Bagpipes, Highland Dance, Scottish and Cape Breton Fiddle, Smallpipes, Highland Drums and Pipe Band work. Check out the school and get more information about the Festival at their website.
You can find out when other Northeast Highland Games are scheduled by clicking on the "Highland Games Calendar" link on the left or you can get a full view of the calendar on-site by scrolling down to the bottom of this blog.
Keep in mind that the Maine Highland Games are Saturday, August 16, 2008. Same time, same location: Thomas Point Beach, Brunswick, Maine. Gates open at 8am.
Slainte,
Dianne
