North Texas Scottish Festival

[hallmarktex]

I am thinking about coming from Florida for the weekend, how many people does this game draw..

John

There are usually several thousand in attendance. They have both professional and amateur class highland games that draw competitors from all over the country. There are also vendors there from across the states and a few from Scotland.

It's a grand time!

I've taken a gig that will keep me busy during the day, which means missing all the highland games. We won't be able to be there until about 8 in the evening. We're trying to work out what entertainment venues will be worth checking out then. Are any of the X-markers planning on staying into the evening, especially Saturday?

[Morris at Heathfield]

Pretty slim pickings after eight, compared to what will have gone on before then. You've got Scottish country dancing in the dance tent, the Killdares and Seven Nations in the Glengarry tent, somethings called "Lassies Galore" and "Fiddle Faddle" in the Glenfinnan tent, and the Scottish dog show in the dog tent.

I intend to be there during the afternoon. I don't think I'll show up as early as 9 am, or leave as late as 12 pm, but I intend to stay a while. The piping competition ends at 7:30, and I'd like to stay at least that long, so I may very well still be around when you show up. I'm not sure where...probably watching the tail end of the caber toss or the start of the country dancing. Or finally getting dinner, if there are any food vendors still open.

[Ronusan]

I'll be there, possibly all 3 days. Lucky I own 3 kilts!
Looking forward to the Bodhran workshop, just wish there was a chanter/pipes workshop too!

To find me there just look for the skinny guy who needs a haircut wearing an obviously home-made kilt.

[Jack Daw]

I used to go to the TSF for several years, but my business travel picked up and I haven't been able to go for about 4 years. It's the biggest festival and Highland games in Texas, frankly. This event draws about 20,000, and that's being conservative.

This particular festival features: several kilt-makers, book sellers, and CD sellers; several food and beer vendors; the adult athletics; live music from the popular contemporary Celtic bands; and, a big clan gathering (abt 70 to 80 clans). If you expect to find pipe bands, you will be woefully disappointed. There are no sanctioned competitions; but, the Highland dancers and solo pipers are there to compete for the experience. And, it appears that several X0Markers already know they have GREAT workshops.

The weather, though, is not usually the best part. Every year I went, it was either blistering hot, very windy, pouring rain, or some strange combination of all three. So, be prepared.

My favorite activity is the Saturday evening whisky tasting! That's not to be missed, if you imbibe.

[Morris at Heathfield]

I'm a teetotaler.

I understand the big draws are the athletics competitions and the contemporary music. As for pipe bands, the North Texas Caledonians are supposed to be playing at 1:00. There's something else going on from 5:30 to 7:30. Is it just a bunch of random pipers practicing, or is it a little more organized than that? I assume there will be piping during the Highland dancing as well? Best of both worlds.

On the other hand, it's possible I will spend all my time among the kilt-makers, book sellers, and clan tents.

I'll keep an eye on the forecast—not that the weather always cooperates.

If anyone wishes to find me, I'll be the guy who's not wearing a kilt.

[Cynthia]

We're still waiting to see which day/s we'll be going. Hubby has a Stillwater Standard kilt in Black Stewart (he's Christo13 if you want to see a photo... that's him in his userid, you can't miss him).

I'll probably be the gal looking miserable from the heat with a knee-length braid. I certainly won't be wearing my hair loose this time, but I can't deny it's a great way to spot me out of the crowd. So I'll probably just wear it in a long braid. I don't have any tartan at the moment and Christopher isn't even 100% sure if he'll be wearing the kilt (I'm hoping he will, of course, but he may not wear it more than once... we'll see).

I'll definitely post here once I know when we'll be going.

[Jack Daw]

No pressure on Christo13, but no matter the weather, they'll be plenty in kilt. The only time I regretted wearing the kilt was in a downpour before I got my first Inverness cape. I tied a plastic garbage bag around the kilt to keep it dry. Well hey, it was green!...a dark shiny green.

[Cynthia]

I think it's more of a comfort/shoe thing for him. He wants to be comfy, but all he has are his dress shoes and his athletic shoes (which are grey and black with a bit of yellow on them). He meant to get some hiking boots but we haven't been able to yet. He's a little worried about looks despite wanting to keep his feet from screaming at him, and I can understand that. If you don't feel comfortable about what you're wearing, you won't be comfortable (mentally I mean).

We'll see, though

[Jack Daw]

I'm a teetotaler.

I understand the big draws are the athletics competitions and the contemporary music. As for pipe bands, the North Texas Caledonians are supposed to be playing at 1:00. There's something else going on from 5:30 to 7:30. Is it just a bunch of random pipers practicing, or is it a little more organized than that? I assume there will be piping during the Highland dancing as well? Best of both worlds.

On the other hand, it's possible I will spend all my time among the kilt-makers, book sellers, and clan tents.

I'll keep an eye on the forecast—not that the weather always cooperates.

If anyone wishes to find me, I'll be the guy who's not wearing a kilt.

Well, I'm glad to see that one pipe band will be there. The sanctoned competitions will usually draw three or more pipe bands, but these informal comps are set up for solo pipers only. My guess is the NTCP&D will have a few pipers competing solo. The solo piping comps used to be on the grounds just under the concrete ramp that leads up to the breezeway at the top back of the stadium. I don't know if that is still their location. I consider such as bridge-troll accommodations, but at least its in the shade. The piping comps don't generally draw a large crowd. I don't think you will see many pipers strolling the grounds piping like at smaller events. Unlike most, this Scottish festival is literally a profit-making enterprise and is run in a business-like manner. This is why there are no sanctioned comps - because such takes money (to pay the judges) rather than makes money.

The solo piping may have a time frame listing in the program, but the contemporary Celtic musicians will be listed with specific show times inside the entertainment tents. There are at least 3 or 4 of those large tents scattered across the grounds. I think there is a real live dance piper (vs recorded music) for the Highland dancers, but I don't remember. These girls used to dance on the gridiron under an open-sided shade-tent and may still. Like I said, I haven't been there in a few years.

All in all, it's good fun! Two other good selling points - there's plenty of parking and the stadium bathrooms have running water with soap and TP. But, bring extra supplies as they could run out. As a regular clan rep tenter, I never forget the Purel and the "therapeutic papers" in my haversack.

[Jack Daw]

I think it's more of a comfort/shoe thing for him. He wants to be comfy, but all he has are his dress shoes and his athletic shoes (which are grey and black with a bit of yellow on them). He meant to get some hiking boots but we haven't been able to yet. He's a little worried about looks despite wanting to keep his feet from screaming at him, and I can understand that. If you don't feel comfortable about what you're wearing, you won't be comfortable (mentally I mean).

We'll see, though

I see your and his point. There is a lot of soft ground around the clan gathering and one of the entertainment tents, but for the most part there are concrete paths; so, if you're strolling about for a few hours, good walking shoes are important. I have extra cushioning in my hiking boots for such.