Red & the Scotsman's Kilt

Top o' the mornin' an' all that blarney,

So, what does a Scotchman wear under his kilt? I'm not really all that interested to know, but the Celtic Festival, generally held in April at the Jefferson-Patterson Park was a sight to behold. Pretty girls, some finer examples of good sippin' whiskey, beer, and Celtic-themed food were on display. Not only that, but some of the finest music to be had for 300 miles.

L'il Red and I set out about 10:30 am, which turned out to be a little late as far a scheduling goes.

There was plenty of parking, and tickets were $15 for Adults, and $5 for under 12(?). I don't remember, but it cost $20 to get in. Once inside the venue, there are pretty girls, some finer examples of good sippin' oh, wait I mentioned that. The schedule included dancing (Irish, Scotch and Welch) Pipes and Drum Corps from the entire Eastern Seaboard, Sea Chanteys, and bands with traditional instruments (guitars, mandolins, tin whistles, bagpipes, bodhrans (that's a Celtic drum for you simple folk), and fiddles.

There were also some hammered dulcimer artists, and I really appreciate a well played hammered dulcimer. Interestingly, there were not many Appalachian style dulcimers there, but there was a luthier there with a few on display. For the uninitiated, an Appalachian Dulcimer is a plucked instrument, and the hammered dulcimer looks a little like the guts of our modern day piano.

Speaking of guts, I am especially pleased to note that you could find haggis at the food vendor, mercifully absent of sheep stomach. All the food of Scottish origins were being served in puff pastry, so you can enjoy an ethnic cuisine AND successfully evade any hint of regional grossness. Like many festival type events, you should see it on your stomach.

Music is Red's passion, and I am always tickled pink when I see local or ethnic acts that embody the spirit of our forefathers. Sadly, the corporate/commercial next big thing radio poopheads don't see this music as a viable market, so your only opportunities to hear this great music is at these type of happenings, or maybe (big maybe) on your local Public Radio station.

There were traditional Highland sports, which honestly, Red couldn't tell you what they were or how they were scored. I can give you descriptions, and let you draw your own conclusions. The two I observed were tossing telephone poles end over end and hay bales over a high wire. While the physical prowess required to do either impressed me, not sure it's ever going to be seen on ESPN.

We had a good time, and it was of interest to see the various clans set up in tents around the park. I am always wary of "Scotsman for a day" much as I dislike "Irish for a day" on St. Paddy's, but there was genuine interest in the genealogy and bloodlines, which made this far more authentic.

Next year Red plans on making a day of it, getting there early, and hope to be able to provide an update.

TNT,

Red

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Red & the Scotsman's Kilt

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