All things Scottish
Colchester Highland Games and Gathering in Bible hill draws large crowd
The first Colchester Highland Games & Gathering was a huge success.
About 1,000 people attended the event in Bible Hill to enjoy the sights and sounds, and plans for next year’s festivities are already in the works.
“It was amazing, it went so smoothly,” said Linda Finnie, event organizer. “The volunteers did an amazing job.
“There have been lots of positive comments. I think the variety of stuff was what made it really enjoyable for people.”
Scottish tribal band ‘Clann An Drumma’ was the headline performers and proved extremely popular with the crowd.
“We’ve already booked them for next year,” said Finnie. “They loved it here and think it’s an amazing country. As they were flying in on Thursday they saw torrential rain and when they got out they couldn’t believe how warm it was. It was raining, but cold, when they left Scotland.”
It was the band’s first trip
to Canada but Finnie had the chance to see them while she was still living in Scotland.
“The last time I heard them live was about 15 years ago and playing live they’re so amazing,” she said. “They made me proud to be Scottish.”
One group of people came to Nova Scotia especially to hear Clann An Drumma live.
Pipe bands, highland dancing,
heavyweight competition, historical reenactments, a tactical assault display and tug ‘o war, clan tents, food, crafts, clan tents and more were also a part of the celebration. A ceilidh dance in the evening was also very successful.
Finnie said she’d like to have more children take part in games next year.
Plans are for the event to be held the second weekend of September
2018 at the Jennifer Drive ball fields again, if possible.
The Colchester Tartan was unveiled Friday evening and it was announced that the County of Colchester had purchased the first kilt made of the tartan. Scarves made of Colchester Tartan can be purchased from The Scots Society at https://www. colchesterhighlandgames.com/ tartan/.