Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mountain Highland Games report
I arrived at the park Friday night to look things over and to set up the tent. After I got done securing the banner and flags I noticed that I had everything facing out the wrong side of the tent. No problem, I made a quick adjustment and went home. One of the nicest things about this game was that it was about a 10 minute drive from my house.
The games started at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and my son & I got there about 8:30, after a brief stop at that quaint Scottish restaurant, McDonald's. I stopped at a gas station to get some gator aid and the clerk, (a female of the species) gave me a big WaHoo! as I was in my kilt.
Michael showed up shortly after nine and he had brought some clan info that he had made and I was very impressed with his work. The morning was pretty slow, I don't think we had anyone inquiring about our clan but we sure had a lot of kids who wanted their passports stamped. We didn't have one so we improvised my carving a "T" in the end of a cork and used a ball point pen to add ink. It was very rustic.
At noon all the bands marched onto the field in a large formation followed by each clan. Michael, Collin and I represented our clan. After the parade the crowd began to pick up and by mid-afternoon we had had 4 or 5 people come by and show some interest.
The tents closed down at 5 pm and Michael stayed to listen to the music while I went home to attend a party that night. I said the heck with it and wore my kilt to the party. My son had a "previous appointment" so he took the car, so I rode my motorcycle...... down I-25..... the kilt flapping in the breeze behind me.......it felt.... liberating! It was real strange because all the men in the cars tried their best to ignore me while the women waved! I got pinched twice while at the party.
Sunday turned out to be a little warmer than Saturday, or did it just seem that way? I expected sunday morning to be real slow and it was, other than the kids and their passports. Again at noon we had a grand review of the bands and clans and the crowd really didn't pick up until 1:30 or so. I would say that Sunday was slower than Saturday in terms of the number of attendees both to the festival and to our tent.
I would have to say that we were very well received by all the clans, and while the numbers visiting out tent were smaller than I had hoped, I didn't other clans crowding with visitors either. There were about 24 clans represented, and I would say the festival is about half the size of Glasgow, for those who have been to that game.
We, and I especially are fortunate to have Michael as a member. Not only did he take it upon himself to get us a tent at Estes Park, he's also very well informed about the Celtic community here in Colorado, and about our clan. It was a pleasure to spend some time with him and get to know him better. We made a list of things we need to add to or change at Estes Park, and I look forward to working the tent with Michael there.
respectfully submitted,
Booner
