The Philadelphia Folk [Music] Festival has been held for three days in August each year near Philadelphia, PA for 47 years. Attendance (in a slow year) is 6000 closely packed campers (!) and 14000 day attendees. The atmosphere is like (the original) Woodstock (minus heavy Rock Music). The dress code is tie-dye - warm weather ultra-casual.
AmeriKilts vended there several times in prior years. I purchased my first kilt from them one year ago.
It is not a Scottish or Celtic theme event, other than for some Celtic music bands in the line-up, including Tempest with the fiddler in a UtiliKilt, and the piper, Dennis Hangey, who traditionally opens each evening’s main stage concert.
The weather was sunny with temperatures in the low to mid 80’s daytime and mid 60’s at night. A very little bit of rain – just enough to keep the dust down.
Kilts seen:
A dozen and more UtiliKilts.
A dozen and more AmeriKilts.
A half-dozen Sport Kilts.
A dozen assorted other economy tartan or black acrylic kilts.
Three light to mid-weight tartan wool kilts.
One belted plaid.
There were also a dozen gents in non-kilt MUGS, and a half-dozen lassies in kilts.
I was a camper and brought a half-dozen kilts and wore one of them continuously for three days and nights.
Life is good.
I also brought a half-dozen economy tartan kilts to lend or sell. All were claimed immediately to borrow, and I sold two.
On Saturday afternoon I was interviewed by WHYY TV (PBS) for the story topic: “Kilts at the Philadelphia Folk Festival”. The reporter particularly liked my Sport Kilt (Pacific Trail Hiking Kilt) and asked why there were so many men in kilts. So I told her as best I could. (You all know why – style and comfort). Not sure if and when and how they’ll run the interview. Hope I’m not left on the cutting room floor. Or maybe my destiny is to be in a Pledge Break…?
I didn’t see any Kilt Don’ts (by my admittedly broad standards). The kilted gents always had a nod and smile for each other.
And as always, gals love the look of a man in a kilt.
When I pack for camping, something is always forgotten. This time it was my camera. I’ll post pics if any come my way.
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