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Long's Peak Highland Festival, Estes Park Colorado

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Michael Thompson:
It is said that big oaks from little acorns grow. A truer word was never spoken when one reviews the tiny start of four families sharing a picnic and an ethnic background in Bond Park, and then views the Estes Park Scottish/Irish Highland Festival scene at the Stanley Fairgrounds more than thirty years later!

There will be pipers piping and drummers drumming, kilts and plumed bonnets, brave steeds bearing medieval jousters in combat, caber, stone and hammer throwing athletes.


You'll hear international and world famous singers and entertainers for free on the field and watch the "creme de la creme" of young dancers executing the Highland, Folk and Irish dances of their heritage. The dogs indigenous to the British Isles will win your hearts and tempt you to add a "family member". Fine merchants and talented crafters with exotic Celtic merchandise, beautiful clothing, exquisite jewelry, fascinating heraldry histories, and art in all its many guises will satisfy the most ardent souvenir collector. Add the clans with their gorgeous tartan displays, hospitality tents and joyous reunions, and you cannot but feel welcome and happy.

Hungry, are you? Then the Festival is a haven of the familiar American foods and Celtic specialties-turkey legs, hamburgers, ice cream, Scotch, beer, haggis, meat pies, funnel cakes and much, much more!

Come to Estes Park for the Festival. Renew your spirits, dance to the pipes, and hear the cannons roar.

Thomas Thompson:
Tom’s ESTES PARK report: 
     If you haven’t been there the setting is tremendous. Picture pine covered mountains with snowy peaks enclosing a basin containing a lake, the Big Thompson River and a beautiful small town. The people are the heart of the event and Coloradoan’s are GREAT and friendly to a fault. They anticipated nearly 90,000 would come to the games and I think they may have exceeded even that.
    We set up early Friday morning and left Harold and Patsy to man the tent while Booner and I visited all the Clans, asking for support for reconstituting Clan Thomson.  All, save one, were very supportive of our goal.  As the day progressed we learned the meaning of climate change. The temperature climbed to a high of 54 and then the wind kicked up!!! I have a real appreciation for women who can ignore the cold in skirts. The only ugly happening came about Friday evening when the event organizer stopped by and told us a little arrogant man came into their tent and demanded to know what criteria was used to allow Clan Thomson to participate.  He then abruptly ran off without waiting for an answer.  They said it was probably a kook and not to concern ourselves.  Their description fits Patrick perfectly.
   Saturday began with a parade through town.  Tom and Barbara along with most of their family showed up
Sporting new blue t-shirts with the Clan Thomson Society logos on the back.  He bought 20 for his family and had two left over. Maybe we can get him to order more if you would like one??? There were 10 of us marching in the Parade with one napping in the stroller and one skipping everywhere.  All I could hear was the band in front of me, but Booner said we had a lot of cheers for Clan Thomson.  On the long walk back to the grounds, Booner opted to carry Tom’s niece on his shoulders – big error.  It was 60 pounds more than his feet could take!!!  Not long after we got back to the tent, we were told to form up for the Parade of Tartans!! I’m skipping over the most important part though!  We were literally swamped with Thom(p)sons wanting information about their heritage.  I was actually touched by their enthusiasm at finally having a Clan of their own.  Two families had stopped at the Campbell tent and were directed to our tent.  The following day, Booner and I went to the Campbell tent and thank them for sending our members to us. I met two families who had a long genealogy back to Scotland in the 1630’s.  That was exactly what Lord Lyon had requested and we were promised that their genealogy would be posted on our forum. I am ashamed to admit it, but I lost track of which Thompson was which.  We tried to get pictures of everyone but I am sure we missed some of you. We have 85 signatures on our petition to Lord Lyon and 12 requesting more information, 4 joined the Society and 4 more said they would use the “PayPal” credit card on the webpage.
   Saturday night was a jubilant celebration back in the motel.  We came to CO not knowing what to expect and
were a little anxious about our reception at our first major event in the West. However, the people who came tent expressed so much enthusiasm and pride of being a descendant of a Scottish Thom(p)son family completely overwhelmed me. I’m sure that I heard : “I’m so glad to see a Clan Thomson tent here.” repeated at least 20 times. Added to this was the welcoming reception of the established Clans and the positive support from the event organizers. I was so overjoyed I nearly forgot an important task. This was the first time Dan ‘Booner’ Thompson wore a Thompson kilt. Harold as a former Grand POO BAA was willing to conduct the rite of christening the Kilt for Booner. After the short ceremony we enjoyed a bit of Booner’s Scotch and went to bed absolutely exhausted.
  After Booner fed his cow elk, we set up the tent on Sunday and again we were swamped with Clansmen.  Michael Thompson and his boys (Mulligan Stew) band returned as promised and set up by our tent and entertained the crowd. See: www.muligan-stew.com for CD of 200 years of Irish Musical Leftovers.  Later (groan) it was time for the third and last parade. I think we only had about 12 present for this one (sore feet). And I almost forgot we had a representative of Clan Thomson in the heavy athletic events wearing our tartan.  I am sure we will hear more from him later on.
   Monday, and it was time to leave for the airport.  Booner’s elk tried to follow, but we out ran her. I couldn’t decide if she was lovesick or just wanted more of Booner’s donuts.
   We have solemn promises from 6 families that they would help Booner operate the tent next year if we would return to Estes Park.  Friends, I’ll try my best to have a Clan Thomson tent there next year!
Tom

Ernest Thompson:
I don't know if it was Stu's music of Terry Kelly "A Pittance of Time" that set  my mood but after reading your Estes Park report my throat choked up and a wee mist covered my eyes.
Thanks guys and Tom, may God bless you and Mary especially, for with your efforts, Thom(p)sons throughout the world will have a home.
Keep up the good work gang you've certainly inspired me to the cause.

Ern

Michael Thompson:

--- Quote from: Ernest Thompson on September 10, 2008, 06:16:13 PM ---I don't know if it was Stu's music of Terry Kelly "A Pittance of Time" that set  my mood but after reading your Estes Park report my throat choked up and a wee mist covered my eyes.

--- End quote ---

You should have been there a couple of years ago, when it snowed most of the day Saturday. We awoke Sunday morning to beautiful Colorado blue skies, snow on the ground and on the high peaks all around us, mist rising from the fields, and the sound of the pipes skirling all around. You'd have sworn you were in Scotland.

Lowell Thompson:
Im the Thompson that does the heavy athletics. Lowell E.S.Thompson is the name. I have been involved with heavy events for six years and currently ranked 8th in the country for the 190 and under class. I am proud to represent our clan and history and will not stop until I die.

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