Celts in Kilts (And other things to be found at the Highland Games)

On Saturday my family attended the Scottish Highland Games at Fair Hill, Maryland. We attend every year if we can. I thought I'd share with you some of the sights. Locally, we call the games the "Celtic Festival" because it really goes beyond Scotland and celebrates all things Celtic. So I tied on a piece of St. David's plaid (the Welsh national tartan), grabbed my camera, and enjoyed a great day in the sun. (You can click on the photos for full sized shots.)

Things to be Found at the Highland Games:

Celts in kilts.

(We're looking for volunteers to tell these guys that kilts are for sissies.)

Natural redheads and natural curls.

Heather and thistle.

Just about anything in your family tartan.

Bagpipers, of course.

About thirty different pipe and drum bands competed for prizes. Individual pipers were judged as well.

At mid-day all the pipe and drum bands gather in the field in formation. Hundreds of pipes play at the same time and the sound is indescribably glorious.

Sheep and sheep dogs.

And the products of their wool.

Girls with ribbons in their hair.

And all sorts of accessories for the manly Celt or Celt wanna be.

Heptathlon athletes.

I think this guy was the winner this year and last.

This is my favorite picture. This man sports: a baseball cap, designer sunglasses, a tee shirt, a suede leather kilt, the wife's purse and the kid's stroller slung over the shoulder and a glass of Robert the Bruce beer in hand.

A true Renaissance man.

These are my all-around favorite guys.

By the way, when I said to favorite guy #2, "This is such a nice picture, but you just couldn't resist  the devil horns, could you?" he looked offended.

"They're bunny ears," he said.

Comments

[Catez]

Looks like a lot of fun. Erm... you know some-one will ask this - did you eat any haggis?
Thanks for sharing your photos - this is just what I was in the mood for.

[Dory]

I passed over the haggis, Catez, in favor of the pasties, dipped in HP Sauce, (which we can't normally get locally). Very good, though not quite as good as Mum's. I must also admit to a couple glasses of that Robert the Bruce beer. Good stuff.

[Catez]

HP sauce!!! I looove HP sauce. We have it here in all the supermarkets. We have pasties too but I'm more of a pie girl myself. Goodness - you are the first blogger I have come across who knows what HP sauce is. A kindred spirit methinks.

[mrsdkmiller]

Come to the McHenry Highland Festival games at Deep Creek Lake next weekend and you'll see my girls Highland Dancing (and hopefully taking home a few medals)! And we'd love to see you and those two favorite guys of yours -- it's been a long time! Hmm, I think #2 wasn't even born yet. Warning: there will be *horrors and shudders* girls in kilts. I'm afraid it's required for the dancers -- and it's a lot more modest than the costumes you'll find at just about any other dance venue!

[Mark Keeney]

Your Renaissance Man is actually wearing a Utilikilt (utilikilt.com) It is actually a canvas duck. Kinda like carhardt clothing. It is called a Workmans Kilt.