Highland Games this Weekend

[TNScotsman]

I'm headed to the Smoky Mountain Highland Games this weekend with my wife and a mutual friend of ours. I'll likely be in a PV Black Watch kilt as my good kilt is 16 oz wool and the forecast calls for sunny and 91 degrees. I'm thinking I'll pair it with a Scotland rugby shirt I have and a Tilly hat to keep the sun off my face and neck. Odds are good I'll be in sandals without hose just for the sake of being cooler. It's an outfit unlikely to be seen in the Highlands, but of course it won't really be common weather for the Highlands either.

I also plan to be kilted Friday night as several of us are putting on our nicer than normal clothes to go see the second Downton Abbey movie that opens that night. My good kilt is likely to be on for that one. Yeah, the Granthams/Crawleys aren't Scottish, but it's a fine reason to wear a kilt and my wife really likes me to do so when I can!

Finally, just for the fun of making some heads explode, how should I pin my fly plaid to my rugby shirt? I want to look fancy (that really is a joke, but my gosh I wouldn't be surprised to see somebody do it this weekend)

[OC Richard]

Well I've certainly seen plenty of fly plaids pinned onto Pirate shirts!

Rugby shirts, not that I can recall.

Have a great time!

One thing, if you need to protect your head from the beating sun then you might want to protect your feet as well.

Oddly we were just talking about this at work the other day, people being good about putting on sunblock on their face and arms then getting sunburned feet due to sandals.

[TNScotsman]

One thing, if you need to protect your head from the beating sun then you might want to protect your feet as well.

The reminder is very much appreciated Richard! Being a boater and kayaker I'm somewhat obsessive about getting my ears and feet, which people usually miss. We are looking forward to a great day tomorrow with good food and live music.

[EagleJCS]

TNScotsman,
Have a listen to the band competition on Saturday while you're there. The Nashville Pipes & Drums Grade 3 band has a few members borrowed from the Louisville Pipe Band. They start competing about 3:40-3:45 PM.

The LPB Grade 5 was planning on going (I was going to be there to play the bass drum), but a couple of pipers tested positive for Covid, dropping the number of playing pipers below the minimum number for competition. The band's exec committee decided to cancel the band's participation, so I decided not to make the trip down.

There's also some unplanned family stuff going on this weekend as well, so it's just as well I didn't go.

Have a good weekend, stay hydrated, and maintain your sun block!

[TNScotsman]

The games were great fun and very well run. The crowd on Saturday was huge, the music was fantastic, and surprisingly I didn't see any kilts being worn incorrectly. I did see some interesting things, like the guy who was dressed up as a kilted Star Wars stormtrooper, and a couple who for reasons I can't fathom were dressed as pirates, but it was a friendly, comfortable crowd.

We did see plenty of ambulances coming and going with what we assume were heat exhaustion issues among the attendees. We were OK, but paid close attention to staying hydrated and taking care of ourselves.

[Steelkilt]

My family and I visited the Renaissance Festival in College Grove, TN (between Murfreesboro and Franklin). Lots of fairies, pirates, woodland sprites, and kilts! I privately chuckled when pleats were worn on the front or side, but the wearers were clearly enjoying the garment, so live and let live! I found myself thinking how nice it would be to have an XMarks tent set up to spread the unbifurcated gospel!

I’m pleased to hear the Smoky Mountain games were a good time, we’ll check them out next time!

[OC Richard]

The Nashville Pipes & Drums Grade 3 band has a few members borrowed from the Louisville Pipe Band.

They have to be on the band's roster 30 days prior to the competition, correct?

Out here in WUSPBA territory band-swapping became so common they had to implement the "one man one band" rule, the only exception being the "instructor rule" which itself is widely abused.

The Louisville Pipe Band Grade 5 was planning on going (I was going to be there to play the bass drum), but a couple of pipers tested positive for Covid, dropping the number of playing pipers below the minimum number for competition.

That's a bummer!

Our band likewise had to drop out of last weekend's Games, our first fullscale contest since 2019, but in our case it was lack of enough drummers. Nevertheless several of our band members competed in solos.

At this first contest in two years it was fascinating to see the effect the Covid layoff had on bands in our area.

Prior to Covid our local Pipe Band scene had experienced a few bands going defunct, but during the shutdown two new local bands were built.

One is the entirely new City Of Angels Pipe Band, the other is the resurrection of a band that's not competed in a decade, the Nicholson Pipe Band.

[EagleJCS]

They have to be on the band's roster 30 days prior to the competition, correct?

Out here in WUSPBA territory band-swapping became so common they had to implement the "one man one band" rule, the only exception being the "instructor rule" which itself is widely abused.

Richard,
Yes, the Louisville members competing in the Nashville grade 3 line had to be on the Nashville grade 3 band's roster at least 30 days prior to the contest. Two of the Louisville band members competing with Nashville are on the Louisville grade 5 roster as Playing Instructors (and therefore aren't counted in the number of competing members to meet minimum number requirements). Playing Instructors have to be listed as such on a band's roster at least 60 days before a contest. There are penalties if the rule is not adhered to. EUSPBA rules, pp 17-18. It looks like the EUSPBA was seeing what was going on in WUSPBA-land.

The other "non-PI" Louisville members competing in the Nashville grade 3 line don't compete in the Louisville grade 5 line, but they otherwise participate in band rehearsals and performances.


Apologies to the OP for the sidetrack of the thread.

[LoE]

Protect your feet. Summer sun will cook them. Don't leave them exposed to sun direct rays. A sunburn on the feet, ankles, shins, calves... not worth it. Could ruin the next day or two of the Games. Wear something just for protection.

I personally recommend House of Cheviot for hose. Hebrideans in particular. They're moderately expensive, but they feel really good. They're soft, they absorb sweat, they're fire resistant, a midge barrier, and they prevent sunburn. Cool in the heat, warm in the rain. Period correct good looking hose.

Just my opinion which isn't worth very much. But I've worn them.

https://www.houseofcheviot.com/search/hebridean