Category: Clan Games

Inaugural Tartan Day North Carolina

The Inaugural Tartan Day North Carolina celebration was held on April 6, 2017 at the Raleigh Museum of History. North Carolina has a rich history of Scots relocating to the new world. During troubled times, many Highlanders relocated to the Cape Fear River Valley and from the Lowlands, Ulster Scots settled throughout the Piedmont and Southern Appalachians.

Clan Wallace and Clan Donald were invited to the Museum of History to help educated folks on how important Tartan Day is in North Carolina. Along with the two clans where Wake District Pipe and Drum, weaving demonstration, and sword dancing. Dr. Bruce Durie, spoke on finding your Scottish roots.

Russ and Marcia Harper set up a display of things that related to Scotland and North Carolina. Packets were created to hand out to teachers to help their students better understand what it is to be Scottish and how it relates to North Carolina. It was estimated that 600 home school children visited us for Tartan Day.

Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the day.

Contributed by Marcia Harper

7th Annual Tartan Day South

The 7th annual Tartan Day South (SC) was held on April 1, 2017.  Sunshine and cold temperatures on Saturday greeted the twelve clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them.   Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.

Tartan Day South is held at the Historic Columbia Speedway, where Richard Petty had is first NASCAR race.

Carolina British Classic cars and Hurling where just some of the things you could enjoy.  The festival included athletics both men and women, Scottish dancing and Irish dancing, Children’s games face painting and storytelling, and three pipe bands.

What a great weekend we had.  Thanks to all that came out to enjoy the day with us.

Contributed by Marcia Harper

2nd Annual Myrtle Beach Highland Games

Clan President Russ Harper with wife Marcia

The Inaugural Myrtle Beach Highland Games (SC) was held on March 25, 2017.  These games are held at Market Commons in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.   Overcast day created the twenty three clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them.  Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.

The entertainment included the St. Andrews Pipes and Drum, Myrtle Beach Regional Pipe and Drum, Cross Creek Pipe and Drum, and the Coastal Shields Pipe and Drum, SYR and Tuatha Dea.  The Games included heavy athletics, Children’s Highland games competition, and Border Collie Demonstration.  The vendors at the games included, Near and Far, Timeless Irish Treasures, The Gaelic Shop, Metals & Pieces, Collegiate Tartan, The Celtic Knot, The Heelan Hound.

Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the day.

Contributed by Marcia Harper

25th Annual Panama City Beach Highland Games

Russ Harper 1st Place Trophy for Best Clan Tent

The Panama City Beach Highland Games (FL) was held on March 4, 2017. These games are held at Frank Brown state park in Panama City Beach, Florida. Sunshine was the weather of the day. There were sixteen clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them. Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.

The entertainment included the Santa Rosa Pipes and Drum, Emerald Coast Pipe and Drum, Tallahassee Pipe and Drum, and the Panama City Pipe and Drums, and the McGuire’s Pipe and Drums, The Blarney Girls and the Seven Nations. The Games included heavy athletics, Children’s Highland games competition, British Car show, Border Collie Demonstration and Highland dancing. The vendors at the games included, Celtic Store, Cameron British Food, The house of Douglas bakery, Scots Corner, Scots den, and Near and Far Scottish.

At the end of the day Clan Wallace was awarded 1st place in Best clan tent. House of Gordon took 2nd place for Best Clan Tent, and Clan Johntson/e in American took 3rd place. Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the day with us.

Courtesy of Marcia Harper

23rd Annual Sarasota Highland Games

Russ Harper Sarasota Highland Games 2017
Russ Harper, Clan Wallace President with 2nd Place Award at the 2017 Sarasota Highland Games

The Sarasota Highland Games (FL) was held on February 4, 2017. These games are held at Sarasota fair grounds in Sarasota, Florida. Sunshine was the weather of the day. There were twenty–two clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them. Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.

The entertainment included the Sarasota Pipes and Drum Band, The City of Dunedin Pipe Band, North American Pipe Band, MacPhearson’s Rant, Brendan Nolan and Booby Vesey and Mike Hickmont. The Games included heavy athletics, British Car show, Border Collie Demonstration Highland dancing and the Irish Dancing. The vendors at the games included, Lumpy’s Ice Cream, Celtic Exchange, Cameron British Food, The house of Douglas bakery, Scottish Banner, Scots Corner, The Celtic Store, and County Argyle.

The Parade of Tartans was held at noon. At 2pm the top three best tent awards were presented, Clan Wallace was awarded second place, Clan Cameron came in first, Clan Henderson came in third.

Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the day with us.

Courtesy of Marcia Harper

40th Annual Central Florida Scottish Highland Games 2017

The Central Florida Scottish Highland Games (FL) was held on January 14-15, 2017 in Winter Springs, Florida. Blue skies and gentle breezes greeted the fifty-five clans participating and Clan Wallace was among them.  Russ and Marcia Harper, along with Captain John Wallace hosted the Clan Wallace tent.

The parade of tartans was held at noon on Saturday and Sunday. We were honored to have a novice Piper Chris Lancaster and his family joins us, along with Marilyn and Neil Wallace, to join us in the Parade of Tartans.    

The entertainment included the Albannach, Breakers, Off Kilter, Rathkeltair, Enter The Haggis, Guilane and Smillie, Men of Worth and The Kilted Creature.   Rosie O’Grady’s Highlanders, Jacksonville Pipes and Drums, Harp & Thistle Pipe Band, Pipes and Drums of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and The Orlando Firefighters Pipes and Drum bands played for us at the games.  The Games included heavy athletics, Border Collies, Irish, Highland and Scottish dancing, Battle Ax Competition, Shortbread Competition, and Children Games.

Congratulations to society member Chris Lancaster for coming in first in the Novice Piping competition.

Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the wonderful weekend with us.

 

 

 

 

40th Annual Central Florida Scottish Highland Games 2017
From left to right: Neil and Marylin Wallace, Marcia and Russ Harper, and Capt John Wallace

Photos and article Courtesy of Marcia Harper

Florida Keys 4th Annual Celtic Festival 2017

The Florida Keys Celtic festival was held in Marathon Community park on January 7, 8, 2017. The Florida Keys beckon you to come as you are. The weather was 82 degrees with bright sunshine on Saturday.  Sunday we were greeted with 40 mile an hour winds.

The event is sponsored by the St. Columba Episcopal church with the cooperation from Celtic Heritage Productions.

Entertainment was provided by West of Galway, The Screaming Orphans, Rathkeltair, Albannach and Marcille Wallis and Friends. The pipe band of the day was the Police Pipe and Drum Corps of Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Women athletes competed, our own Council member, Amy Jenkins was representing Clan Wallace in her Green Wallace kilt.

Clan Wallace, Clan Maxwell and Clan Donnachaidh shared their clan history with the folks of the Florida Keys.

(Courtesy of Marcia Harper)