Celebrating Culture and History
Celebrating culture and history of Scotland was the theme of the 23rd Queen Mary ScotsFestival & International Highland Games. An array of authentic activities that included athletics, dancing, costumes, crafts, pipe and drum bands, entertainment and cuisine set the framework for this wonderfully fun celebration.
The event provided an appropriate tribute to The Queen Mary’s Scottish legacy. Eighty-five years ago, in the quaint seaside town of Clydebank, Scotland, construction began on the iconic Queen Mary. ScotsFestival honored nearly fifty Scottish clans and vendors with professional and amateur competitions in piping, drumming, massed bands, darts, Highland dancing, and Highland athletics.
My wife, Patricia, and I attended the ScotsFestival on Saturday. Even as we approached the festival from afar we could hear the uplifting sound of numerous pipe and drum bands enticing us to enter and join in the spirit and revelry of this celebration. Once inside the festival, a group of friends met us to join in the fun.
Let The Queen Mary ScotsFestival Begin!
Not long after our arrival, the Official ScotsFestival Opening Ceremonies began with the traditional Grand Parade of Clans & Bands and with an Address to the Haggis.
Highland Games
For centuries, Scots have been honoring an ancient Celtic tradition of competing in Scottish Highland Games. The games provide unique and entertaining tests of physical strength, skill and technique. Visitors could watch or compete in the game events for men and women. Game events included:
- Caber (or Pole) Toss
- Throwing the Weight (for height & distance)
- The Hammer Throw
- Putting the Shot (or “Stone of Strength”)
- Sheaf (Bag of Straw) Toss
- Darts
Celtic Cuisine
One of my favorite activities was watching Chef Eric McBride prepare a traditional Celtic dish while discussing the history and nature of Celtic cuisine. As noted by Chef McBride in my earlier interview article,
“Today there are 8 distinctly different lands, which can still be called Celtic. These lands are Scotland, Ireland, Manx, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany France, Galicia and Asturias Spain…Many aspects of Celtic Cuisine are a direct aspect of historical influences…As the remnants of what was once the great expanse of the Celtic Culture came to terms with their new homes they adapted their diet to food readily available to them. Much of what can be called Celtic Cuisine is divided between that which comes from the colder waters of the northern climates and seas and those products that could be farmed in very rugged terrain.“
After his presentation, I bought one of Chef McBride’s cook books. The Celtic-style Vegetarian Cook Book that I purchased provides some excellent recipes as well as further insight Celtic history, poetry, music and literature. I can’t wait to try the Scottish style black eye peas with whisky and sage.
Although I did not attend, one of the featured events of the ScotsFestival was the Robert Burns Supper. For an additional fee, visitors could celebrate Scotland’s best-loved bard, Robert Burns, with a traditional Burns Supper including haggis, whisky, traditional Scottish music and dancing in the Queen’s Salon aboard the World Famous Queen Mary.
Craft Beer and Whisky Tastings
For additional fees, adult revelers could attend either craft beer or whisky tastings. A friend and I attended the craft beer tasting and some other friends attended one of the three types of whisky/whiskey tastings.
In both events, the pours were somewhat light. The Whisky Tasting Event had a fine selection of samples. Although all of the beers at the Craft Beer Tasting Event were excellent, the beer event missed an opportunity to feature and contrast an array of Scottish or Celtic style ales. For example, I would have loved to compare Oskar Blues Old Chub Scotch Ale to Traquair House Scottish Ale or Guinness Irish Stout to a similar style American stout. Instead the beer event only had one Scotch style ale to accompany four different beer styles not related to traditional Celtic brews.
Nevertheless, we had fun so all I can really say is Slainte Mhath!
Crafts and Daily Life
Historically based crafts activities provided insight into key aspects of the everyday lives of early Scots. Demonstrations featured weaving, leather working, and weaponry, as well as, sheep herding.
Costumes and People
This festival is all about people watching. Enthusiasts wear an array of costumes at ScotsFestival to join in the true spirit of celebrating culture and history associated with Scotland and the other Celtic nations.
Overall we had a really fun time at The Queen Mary ScotsFestival & International Highland Games and managed to learn more about Scottish culture, history, and cuisine while celebrating the historic legacy of The Queen Mary. Celebrating culture and history was definitely the successful theme of this event. Next year we may even go in costume!
A big thanks to my talented wife Patricia for the fabulous photographs and to Ellen and Mark for the Whisky Tasting Event feedback and photograph. Also, thank you to the ACE Agency for providing me the opportunity to cover this event.
