For the past six years, the Gathering of the Clans Highland Festival presented by the Flagstaff Scottish Club and Battle River Pipes and Drums has just been getting bigger and better.
This year marked a bit of a departure for the event. Organizer Karen Robinson says, from her perspective, “We are really trying to put our event on the map as a unique festival.
“Ours is different from other Highland games in the province, as we don’t have a day of pipe bands and Highland dancers competing, but just entertaining. We’re trying to build our event as a ‘Highland Games meets Scottish Fair.’”
She adds, “We live in such an agricultural area, so we really want to showcase the many Scottish animals out there as well as other agricultural aspects.”
Organizers have succeeded in creating a unique event not only for Flagstaff County residents, but for visitors from across the Province, who come back year after year.
Robinson says, “We are proud to feature lots of unique vendors and demonstrators,” and that was certainly the case this year, with a new Bodhran Drumming session that visitors could sign up for, featuring Lucinda Warnock.
There was an entire section of the festival grounds that were dedicated to Scottish beasties, whether it was wee kittens or wooly coos (cows). There was even a food truck dedicated to animals, a dog treat bakery on wheels. One very popular demonstration was Chasin’ Dreams sheep herding, as well as the Glensheil Terriers scenting demonstration, and the petting zoo was nearly almost full.
Vendors ranged from selling magic wands to felted Scottish coos and everything in between, with lots of opportunities to nab some excellent baked goods, and visit a variety of food trucks.
One very unique visitor to this year’s event was Hunter McRaptor the dinosaur, complete with kilt and Glengarry, entertaining the children and prompting more than one double-take.
The curling rink featured a break from the sun and breeze and all day entertainment, featuring locals Leanne and Vivian Ball, and visiting Whoopsie Daisies Celtic Quartet and the McMurray Legion Pipe Band guest pipers.
When the festival wore down, the day continued, with a social hour and Ceilidh after 5, featuring two bands, openers Celtic Routes and headliners the Derina Harvey Band. One highlight of the evening is always a pipes and drums jam session with local and visiting musicians.
All in all, this year’s festival enjoyed perfect weather, other than a wind gust or two, and attracted hundreds of visitors.
The event organizers worked hard and succeeded in bringing a unique event to the region once again.
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor