An Eventful Kilted Day

**GMan** · 14th August 04, 05:10 PM

Greetings my kilted brethern and friends,

Today I went to the Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mountain Highland Games in one of the southern suburbs (Highlands Ranch to be exact). Kilts were everywhere not just on band members or athletes, but on many guys. Most seemed over dressed for the occasion even though they were kilted (just my opinion). More than one of the kilted gents mentioned that I looked the most relaxed and comfortable while wearing a kilt. When I mentioned to them that it is an every day thing for me, they seemed impressed. When I mentioned Xmarks some were really impressed, and one even said he lurked here, said he was thinking of posting, just wasn't sure, so without mentioning any names, come on in, and you know that I mean it. Oh by the way thanks for the Guinness!

**David Woodington** · 14th August 04, 05:59 PM

I look forward to the Celtic festival in our neck of the woods every year. (Southern Maryland Celtic Festival)Last year we had well over 10,000 people,I'll ask my Bagpipes teacher for the exact ammount when I see him next.I love the music and games,But, like you the comradery is the real joy.
Some of the people are there to wear fantasy costumes with their faces painted blue and 20 lb swords and other fancyfull things, But theyr're a nice bunch.But it is hard to find many who wear the kilt regularly,many I see that arn't competing are really overdressed wearing flying plaids, formal night sporrans and the like.I usually look like i'm out for a hill walk,ie kilt,hiking boots or leather loafer,t-shirt if it's hot or a sweater if cooler. It is a great place to meet some great people though.
I am glad you had a great time do you attend every year?

Dave

**GMan** · 14th August 04, 07:32 PM

Dave,

We have several within 2 hrs of Denver that I usually attend. The two smaller ones are the Kiowa Games on the plains southeast of town. The Colorado Irish Festival in the Denver area. This one (the Colorado Scottish and Highland Festival) and the Long's Peak Scottish/Irish Festival in Estes Park are the larger ones. They all are great.

**Graham** · 15th August 04, 04:01 AM

Sounds great Glen, wish I could have been there! Were any kiltmakers there?

Did you take any piccies to share with us?

**beverlonian** · 15th August 04, 04:17 AM

Sadly, I'm not aware of any highland games in my area unless anyone can enlighten me. I would probably need to travel to Scotland. Come to think of it, maybe not a bad idea.

**Graham** · 15th August 04, 04:28 AM

Stop complaining, at least you don't have far to go!!!

**David Woodington** · 15th August 04, 05:11 AM

I can type in Scottish games in MD on the WEB and it will give me a list,maybe you can too.I would think that beverlonian and graham should be able to find something a little closer to home.(not to disuade anyone from going to Scotland though).

Dave

**Blu (Ontario)** · 15th August 04, 05:24 AM

For a change, it is always a nice treat to wear a kilt someplace where it is accepted / expected / taken for granted, where you don't have to explain it / justify it / defend it. On the other hand, I think we all get at least a wee bit of enjoyment from the attention and reactions of folks outside of such events. If we didn't..... we wouldn't bother! 8) :mrgreen: 8)

**Mychael Sporrano** · 15th August 04, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by David Woodington

I look forward to the Celtic festival in our neck of the woods every year...

But it is hard to find many who wear the kilt regularly,many I see that arn't competing are really overdressed wearing flying plaids, formal night sporrans and the like. I usually look like i'm out for a hill walk,ie kilt,hiking boots or leather loafer,t-shirt if it's hot or a sweater if cooler.

Hiking boots and T-shirt sounds like how I dress most of the time. If I am taking the family somewhere I wear a nice shirt such as an Oxford or polo or Henley, along with a tweed or leather waistcoat left open, and a day sporran. If the ocassion is particularly nice or requires a bit of formality, I'll pull the socks up and wear flashes, and get out a semi-dress sporran and sometimes the Sgian Dubh and a jacket.

When I went to the mall last week to buy a pair of shoes, I dressed a bit upscale as mentioned above with the intention of coordinating the shoes with the look I was trying to get. I had a good time wearing a traditional kilt around since usually I am in a casual. I returned to the mall yesterday to pick up a jacket that required an alteration, and then stopped by Lazarus/Macy to see about getting another pair of the shoes I had purchased, this time in black. The fellow who had sold me the first pair of shoes was there. He volunteered that after I had left last week, the store was buzzing with talk from folks wanting to know what was up with the guy in the kilt: were the Scottish games in town? was their a festival? etc.

He and I had talked to some length, so he understood my kilt philosophy and relayed it to them. He really made my day when he told me that if I felt any insecurities over dressing as I was, I should put them away because the concensus of the staff at Lazarus/Macy was outstandingly positive. The best part was that my wife was witness to this bit of gushing and will definitely relay it to her mother. It is funny how a bit of outside affirmation of this type can do wonders for helping some folks come to terms with their son-in-law's whacky antics.

Anyway, the vast majority of folks one encounters while at a festival or Highland Games get "dressed up" only a few times per year at best. When most folks buy their kilt outfit, they buy one that is dressy, with coatees and fly plaids and a furry beast of a sporran. It has to be an all occasion thing for them, and based on the expense I totally understand. It might not be proper, and it looks darned warm (!), but at least they are getting some use out of their kilt suits.

One last item. My wife chanced upon a new girl friend who actually appreciates the kilted man. When my wife asked her how often her husband wore his kilt, she responded that he liked to wear it on Halloween. It reminded me of Bear's tag...

Mychael

**David Woodington** · 15th August 04, 06:40 AM

Hey Mychael.Left them with a buzz huh

thats really cool.It's nice that you got such positive feedback.One of my co-workers really loves men in kilts so we took her to the Celtic festival last april.YOu should have seen her grinning

.
My wife loves me in my kilt.I went food shopping the other day and to honest most of the women I saw were either pierced heavily or tatooed and they didn't
seem to pay me much mind.though I heard one harpy repeatedly saying "Oh no he didn't" each time getting louder. she said it about nine times but when I didn't pay her any mind I guess she gave up and crawled back to her cave but that was only one person out of the whole store.I am finding the more I where it to the same places the more they get to know me and accecpt it. I'm glad your wife was there to see and enjoy the praise. That should help to allay any fears. And Blu's right, I do enjoy the positive attention from time to time.sometimes it leads to talking about Celtic things and that I enjoy very much.

Dave