Chicago Highland Gmes and Festival June 19 & 20 2015

[James Hood]

'Tis that time of year, again, bonnie Lassies and braw Lads.

Just a hair over two months away.

IN this opinion, the event just outside of Chicago in Itasca s a MUST for local kilties and wannabes.

GOBS of vendors of just about everything from Glengarries to flashes and pins and cheapie tartan cargo and leather utility kilts to bonnets and claymores and hose (oh my!) to bagpipe reeds and shortbread pans and chanters and pipes kit to books and recordings to fresh scones and fancy biscuits to GREAT CONTINUOUS LIVE music and MANY hot-food vendors' variations on haggis and fast-food Scots fare.

Keep yar hearty physiologies lubricated with Belhaven ale, lager, hard cideron tap and/or the Scots whusky tasting event...

...watch MANLY men toss cabers and sheaves, marvel at the "wide variety of interpretations" of kiltwearers and accessorizing thereof. Veritable guarantee, you will see PERFECT TCHD...

...and enthusiastic newbies in uber-cheapie kilts made from refined petroleum, worn inside out and pleats in front, with death metal band tee shirts, dirks, hip flasks, broadswords and flip flops. (It's a look)

Pipe bands and colour guards decked out to the most meticulous level...and...Fantasy / medieval reenactors lugging as much hardware as one finds in aisle 17 at Home Depot.

Last year, a HUGE (repeat, HUGE!!!) storm rolled in just as Saturday afternoon became evening and bollixed everything up before the grande finales and closing cermonies.

Who's up for it in '15?


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(copied and pasted from their website)

The CHICAGO SCOTS present the 29th ANNUAL SCOTTISH FESTIVAL & HIGHLAND GAMES

Promoting Chicago's Scottish Tradition, Revelry, and Culture in a Weekend Celebration for the Entire Family!

Experience the best of Scotland without leaving Chicago at the 29th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games, June 19-20, 2015 at Hamilton Lakes in Itasca, Illinois. The festival is open to the public on Friday, June 19 from 4:00pm - 10:00pm and Saturday, June 20 from 8:00am - 9:00pm. The CHICAGO SCOTS invite everyone to be Scottish for this weekend-long annual summer celebration. Offering an extensive array of unique Scottish traditions, revelry, and culture for the whole family!

The festival kicks off Friday, June 19 with exhibits and vendors open from 4:00pm - 10:00pm. Friday evening highlights include:

Highland Dance competition, Heavy Athletics, Rugby Exhibition, Friday Night Fling, crowning of the Heather Queen and Court and a Ceilidh (pronounced Kay-Lee), a lively celebration of traditional and contemporary Celtic music, from 7:00-10:00pm on the Celtic rock stage.

The festival continues Saturday, June 20 from 8:00am - 9:00pm and features:

Champion Supreme Piping and Drumming competition; Heavy Athletics U.S. Open Championship featuring traditional Scottish contests including the Caber Toss (flipping 20-foot, 140-pound tree trunk), the 22-pound Hammer Throw, the Sheaf Toss (flipping a bale of hay over a high bar) and the Clachnert (throwing a 16-pound river stone); Highland Dance competition; Rugby Sevens Highland Challenge; Coerver Cup 3v3 youth soccer tournament; Dogs of Scotland and other animal presentations; Genealogy and cultural exhibits; Parade of Clan Tartans; Children's activities including mini golf, crafts and carnival attractions; and attendee competitions including the Kilted Mile Fun Run/Walk, British Car Show, Haggis Hurling Contest for women, Knobbly Knees contest for men, Haggis Eating Contest and Shortbread Contest. Attendees will also enjoy musical performances on the Celtic Rock Stage, Whisky tastings and seminars, traditional Scottish or American cuisine and shopping in the Celtic Marketplace.

The festivities culminate with the Closing Ceremonies and Massed Bands Show, a breath-taking spectacle of 1,000 bagpipers and drummers, all joined in performing several traditional musical selections including Amazing Grace.