My first outing to a Scottish Festival (in a kilt)

[Theraphosa]

Theraphosa ,

Looking good ! I was there both days and I remember seeing you ( I always notice folks smartly dressed ) , however , I didn't realize that you were a XMarks member .

I am glad you enjoyed the festival , this year the attendance was a bit low due to Saturday's storms . Hope you choose to come back !

The yellow dandelion is an XMarks symbol , if you see someone wearing one anywhere on their attire .... you are most likely spotting an XMarks member . If so , come approach any of us as we are a very welcoming group to anyone and you are certainly an XMarks member .

If you are so inclined , there is another games coming up , the Indianapolis Highland Games on October 8 th . This is actually held south of Indy in Greenwood , IN at German Park ( yes I know , sounds little awkward , Scottish Games , German Park )

Hope to see you there , if not perhaps Columbus next year .

Here's a link :

http://indyscotgamesandfest.com/


Cheers , Mike

Thanks Mike!

It was Grand! I did forgo the first day because of the weather, as well as my sleep schedule. I work nights and got off work at 4:30am Saturday morning!
However, my wife also had a great time, and on the way back to the car, she informed we would be attending the entire weekend next year (regardless of weather!).

I'll touch base with you before the next one, so as to be sure and say Hi!

I had wanted to attend the Indy fest, but alas, I'll be out of town that weekend. We'll make plans to include all the IN festivals next year!

Regards!
Bob

[Theraphosa]

I would have never taken you for a newbie/first-timer, but an experienced kilt-wearer. Well done!

Thank you Sir! High Praise, Indeed!

[Riverkilt]

My bad, lo siento. Good for you...wise.

[EagleJCS]

We'll make plans to include all the IN festivals next year!

Bob,
Keep your eyes open for (somewhat) local events as well. This coming weekend is the Louisville Irish Fest at Bellarmine University. Though it's an Irish event, a few tartan kilts show up as well. The Louisville Pipe Band will be performing 2x on Saturday.

There's a Burns Night sponsored by the Louisville Scottish Society sometime in late Jan/ early Feb, depending on venue availability.

Next spring is the Glasgow (KY) Highland Games, then next September is World Fest in downtown Louisville (multi-cultural, so wear your kilt), the Central KY Highland Games in Eminence (Ren Faire site), and the Irish Fest again.

The Louisville Pipe Band tries to put many of these events on the website's calendar. (I'm a piper with the band and former Pipe Sergeant).

[OC Richard]

I should add that it's wonderful to see a first-time kiltwearer who doesn't do any of the things one often sees with kilt newbies, such as wearing the kilt too low, wearing the socks too high, wear the flashes oddly, have a gap in between the bottom of the waistcoat and the top of the kilt, and so forth.

And not just newbies! It's annoying in pipe bands I've been in to see people who have been wearing kilts their whole lives do those very things. Why must so many people, experienced people, wear their kilt too low, and get a waistcoat that's too short? Pull their socks up so high?

And something I've been noticing more often as of late, wearing the flashes too low. What guys are doing is, instead of putting the elastic garter at the top of the turnover, putting the garter at the very bottom of the turnover, making the flashes as long as possible. It doesn't make sense to me and having the flashes hang down so low doesn't look right, and makes the band look sloppy. I guess it's a byproduct of the modern elasticized socks that don't need garters to hold them up, allowing people to move the garters from their original functional position.

Anyhow one of the first things I noticed with your kit is how nicely your hose and flashes are worn.

[Theraphosa]

Bob,
Keep your eyes open for (somewhat) local events as well. This coming weekend is the Louisville Irish Fest at Bellarmine University. Though it's an Irish event, a few tartan kilts show up as well. The Louisville Pipe Band will be performing 2x on Saturday.

There's a Burns Night sponsored by the Louisville Scottish Society sometime in late Jan/ early Feb, depending on venue availability.

Next spring is the Glasgow (KY) Highland Games, then next September is World Fest in downtown Louisville (multi-cultural, so wear your kilt), the Central KY Highland Games in Eminence (Ren Faire site), and the Irish Fest again.

The Louisville Pipe Band tries to put many of these events on the website's calendar. (I'm a piper with the band and former Pipe Sergeant).

John,

Thanks for the heads up about the Irish Festival, I'll try to make it for at least one of your performances Saturday.

I'll add the others to my growing list of things to attend.
I might have seen you this past weekend, as I was at the Central Ky Highland Games in Eminence. In fact, as I was waiting in line for "beverages", on patron complimented you all, thinking that I was a member of the Louisville Pipe Band. I guess the kilt and waistcoat made me look a bit like you all. I thanked her though, before politely correcting her. I told her I took it as a great compliment.

Regards,
Bob

[EagleJCS]

Well, I wasn't at the CKHG last weekend. Had to work instead.

I'll be the emcee for the band tomorrow. We'll also have a table set up for people to stop by, learn more, and sign up for lessons.

[OC Richard]

As an aside, an old friend of mine plays in Kentucky United Pipes & Drums. They wear the Kentucky tartan which is beautiful.

Having moved to the Lexington area from Southern California and being unaware of the local ways, when the band told him they were doing an upcoming show in "Vursaylz" he couldn't find such a place on the map.

The gig, as it happened, was in nearby Versailles.

[Theraphosa]

I should add that it's wonderful to see a first-time kiltwearer who doesn't do any of the things one often sees with kilt newbies, such as wearing the kilt too low, wearing the socks too high, wear the flashes oddly, have a gap in between the bottom of the waistcoat and the top of the kilt, and so forth.

And not just newbies! It's annoying in pipe bands I've been in to see people who have been wearing kilts their whole lives do those very things. Why must so many people, experienced people, wear their kilt too low, and get a waistcoat that's too short? Pull their socks up so high?

And something I've been noticing more often as of late, wearing the flashes too low. What guys are doing is, instead of putting the elastic garter at the top of the turnover, putting the garter at the very bottom of the turnover, making the flashes as long as possible. It doesn't make sense to me and having the flashes hang down so low doesn't look right, and makes the band look sloppy. I guess it's a byproduct of the modern elasticized socks that don't need garters to hold them up, allowing people to move the garters from their original functional position.

Anyhow one of the first things I noticed with your kit is how nicely your hose and flashes are worn.

I really appreciate your kind words. I know what you mean. In the past year or so, as I've pondered getting my own kilt, I've formed an idea of what I want to look like (other than Sean Connery), and I'd definitely say my opinion of what looks "sharp" is grounded on the posts (including yours) from this forum. I'm gratified that it's observable.