new to the forum from the upper midwest

**JRB** · 29th July 25, 09:19 PM

Welcome neighbor, from Madison, WI!

**geomick** · 30th July 25, 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by JRB

Welcome neighbor, from Madison, WI!

Thanks.

Are you going to the Games in Waukesha next month?

**JRB** · 30th July 25, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by geomick

Thanks.

Are you going to the Games in Waukesha next month?

Possibly. I'm not sure what my schedule is yet. I used to go every year, but I haven't been since, maybe, 2018.

**geomick** · 31st July 25, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by JRB

Possibly. I'm not sure what my schedule is yet. I used to go every year, but I haven't been since, maybe, 2018.

hopefully you'll be able to attend

**JRB** · 31st July 25, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by geomick

hopefully you'll be able to attend

I think it would be fun. I really miss wearing my kilts. Being originally from the northeast, I've been really disappointed (over the past 13 years) at how much less Scottish/Celtic culture (or pride?) exists in the midwest.

**geomick** · 31st July 25, 07:19 PM

This year, I will attend a total of 3 Scottish Games (Milwaukee (Franklin WI) and Chicago (Wheaton IL) happened in June).

August/September will be 2 "Irish" Festivals (Milwaukee Irish Fest in 2 weeks and Irish Fest of the Fox Cities in Appleton in Sep). There are a couple of good Celtic music fests in OH I may attend some year. Had conflicting plans or I would have gone to the Madison area fest this year.

A lot depends on other plans and how far you are willing to drive. The Chicago-area games is the largest I've visited. Looking forward to Grandfather Mountain next year.

**EagleJCS** · 1st August 25, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by JRB

I think it would be fun. I really miss wearing my kilts. Being originally from the northeast, I've been really disappointed (over the past 13 years) at how much less Scottish/Celtic culture (or pride?) exists in the midwest.

I have a theory about why there is a perceived lack of interest/pride in one's ancestral culture in the Midwest in general, but it's too much to get into in a welcome thread and far from the discussion of kilts (and the paraphernalia and cultural history that goes with them), which is the intent of this website. It's a complex, multi-faceted subject that takes more than a pat explanation.

Welcome to XMarks, Geomick.

Some of my ancestors on my mother's side (her father's family) settled in Port Washington, WI in the late 1850's and spread out into Milwaukee and then down to Chicago, where my mother was born.