At a celtic festival.. acceptable attire

**unixken** · 6th February 13, 09:11 PM

Regarding St. Patrick's Day Tshirts:

To counter all the phoneys wearing these, I have one of these.

**TheOfficialBren** · 6th February 13, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by unixken

Regarding St. Patrick's Day Tshirts:

To counter all the phoneys wearing these, I have one of these.

Brilliant.

**aonghas** · 7th February 13, 05:06 AM

Scathingly brilliant

**Tobus** · 7th February 13, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by O'Callaghan

As for those who don't think there should even be such things as celtic festivals, that seems to be coded way of saying that 'their' highland games has been messed up by adding in the Irish and the Welsh. What's wrong with being inclusive?

I don't recall anyone saying that there shouldn't be such things as Celtic festivals. If you're referring to my post, that was not my intent either. I don't have any issues with having a festival that includes Scottish, Irish, and Welsh in one setting, except for the fact that most attendees have no idea what the difference is between them. In my earlier post, I was mainly just explaining that there's no particular "acceptable" attire because it's a bit of a free-for-all. I do wish that there would be a little more emphasis on identifying and celebrating these cultures for what they are, instead of trying to mash them up into a generic "Celtic" theme or reinforce bad stereotypes. But having them all included in the same common celebration doesn't bother me a bit, since we do still have separate events purely for Highland Games and Scottish celebrations.

Around here, these Celtic festivals may or may not have a Highland Games on the side. Usually they're done primarily as music festivals. The grounds will have several stages which are spaced out so that they can have several acts playing at the same time. And the majority of bands are playing Irish music on modern instruments. There's virtually always a separate "camp" where they do historical reenactments of the "Viking invasion". Often they will have an area for dog demonstrations, and they invite the public to bring their dogs if they are of the appropriate breed (usually the Irish Wolfhounds get the most attention). And sometimes they have horse/pony rides for the kids, featuring Shetland ponies, Clydesdales, or other breeds from the UK. There are lots of vendors selling such things as t-shirts, hats, kilts, wooden swords, jewelry, handmade soaps, jewelry, etc. Then there are the food vendors, some of which do sell items like Scotch eggs, Cornish meat pies, and canned haggis. But many are selling hamburgers and hot dogs, turkey legs on a stick, BBQ, tacos, gyros, and other typical "fair foods" which aren't specific to the Celtic theme.

So, all in all, the sense that I get from the organisers is that they are trying to provide a wide range of "Celtic" themes in order to draw more people. Absolutely nothing wrong with that, and it's enjoyable in many ways. Too bad, though, that I have to wade through fairies and stormtroopers and steampunk people, which seem to cheapen the atmosphere and make it all a big joke.

**Dung Trumpet** · 7th February 13, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

Too bad, though, that I have to wade through fairies and stormtroopers and steampunk people, which seem to cheapen the atmosphere and make it all a big joke.

Sometimes, I'd like to do a traditional Glasgow costume in front of these clowns: Burberry cap, blue denims, olive bomber jacket, steel-toed Doc Martens, chain-smoking Silk Cuts, and an ever-present can of Tennants premium-strength lager for that extra touch of authenticity.

**Alan H** · 8th February 13, 11:37 AM

There's also the issue of making money. As in, if the event doesn't make money, it goes away.

This is where folks will point to any number of successful Highland Games and jump up and down and claim that if THEY can do it, THERE, then it must also work EVERYWHERE exactly like that. I hope that people see the fallacy of that argument. Just because something "works" once a year in one location does not mean that it will "work" in other locations exactly the same way.

There's also the question of getting people to put in the work to make an event happen. If the people who are willing to do the work of organizing an event happen to have backgrounds in Ren Faire, or other sort of thing that's not "true enough to the Highlands" for your taste, then it only stands to reason that the event will have a strong Ren Faire feel to it. This is the case for the Tartan Day event that I'm the AD for. There are six of us on the committee, of which three, including the president and the treasurer and the publicity guy, are all about Ren Faire and re-enactors. One other guy is into Celtic music and he's the entertainment guy. Our "Clan Chair" is a lazy bum and does next to nothing, but he's at least willing to make a dozen phone calls and have his name in the program and that's more than anybody else will do. I do the Heavy Athletics and a couple of us know the shinty folks, so they come out and have a tent and do a scrimmage at lunchtime.

So what happens? We COULD have twenty clan tents at this event, but we don't...we have 8-10. Great, do YOU want to volunteer to be our Clan chairman? Who do you know? Do the local folks, mostly older retired couples who maintain the tents know you well enough to come out and spend a day on the strength of your invitation?

The entertainment is good, at least considering the size of our budget, anyway, and Brian knows all those guys/gals. Athletics is *Very* good, 24-30 athletes out, and always 3-4 top caliber amateurs. We can't afford to bring in Pro's but I bust hump to make sure we have a good cross-section of athletes and plenty of gear that's in excellent condition. The Re-enactors side is always strong, as well.

Now, if some of you came to my event, you'd just hate it because it was polluted by those ren-faire people, not to mention the guy walking around in the incredible leather dragon costume. Me? I figure that they paid their rip-snorting $8 at the gate and brought their family and I'm glad they came out.

**Zardoz** · 8th February 13, 11:41 AM

well put Allen.

**Dale Seago** · 8th February 13, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Now, if some of you came to my event, you'd just hate it because it was polluted by those ren-faire people, not to mention the guy walking around in the incredible leather dragon costume.

Here he is with my lass:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...4&l=bc435a45b1

**BBNC** · 8th February 13, 01:20 PM

I would say appropriate attire will depend upon whether or not you are a participant, or a visitor. As a participant, you may actually be putting on some sort of demonstration requiring certain dress. As a visitor, dress to suit yourself, just make sure your sporran is full of cash to leave with the vendors.