Friday, September 23, 2011

2011 Highland Games

This is the first year we managed to stay the entire day at the games.  Usually it starts raining around 1pm and by 2pm it's pouring and we all made the made dash to our cars and home to dry off.  We also went on the Sunday when we usually go on the Saturday which means it wasn't as packed as we are used to and we got to see the Viking ship go up in flames!


Each day of the Games sees the massed bands do a bit of a show off at the main field.  This is all of the bands together led by the Drum Major from one of the most popular pipe bands in Ontario!


Every year this Drum Major is in charge of the massed bands and leads them in and out of the games several times as well as leading his own pipe band.


There are all sorts of hand signals as well as baton signals - it is raised very high so all of the pipers and drummers can see it and know if they are to go straight, left or right...or even turn around!


Some of the dancers on the main stage.  I don't particularly like the black tops with buffalo check kilts but the girls were very good dancers!


A rare male highland dancer.  The dance was traditionally done by Chieftains as a war dance but alas, it has been left to the lassies and their mums to contend with now.  That piper played the same tune for hours.  I bet he hums it in his sleep!


The Viking ship was decorated by children at the Games and at the end of the day was carried in by the heavy games competitors.


The organizers so a fabulous children's area with dancing, shield painting, painted rocks, hair ribbons, beading and all kinds of fun things for the kids to do.  The Little Prince had a great time!  The Viking ship spends the weekend in the children's section so it can be embellished the whole time.  When we got to the field the Little Prince asked, 'Are we going to play arson now?'.  Errrrrr.....

  

Then it is lit on fire and was all watch and cheer as it's burning signals the end of the Games.  


Have a fabulous day!

5 comments:

MCW said...

How fun! Love the traditions...and the kilts :)

Anonymous said...

This is all looking strangely familiar, I always hated Highland dancing, luckily we didn't do it at school!

Teena in Toronto said...

Where were these games? How come I didn't know about them??

Unknown said...

It looks like a lot of fun!

Leeann @ Join the Gossip said...

This looks like a lot of fun!