20 replies to this topic

[RestedTraveler]

Skyliner, on Jun 6 2006, 09:21 PM, said:

Greater Greenville Scottish Games and Highland Festival - June 9-10 (This weekend!)

$15 just to get in the gate and go hang out a couple of hours and maybe get some photos?!?!  I'm afraid I had to pass on this.  I must have overlooked the fee on the web site, but I was in for a bit of a surprise this morning.  Maybe I'm just used to having all of these sorts of festivals/fairs be free admission, but  in my humble opinion, they should find a way to lower the gate fee and recoup it inside once you're in the gate for next year, if there is a next year.  

[Skyliner]

I went over to the Scottish Games and Highland Festival for a few hours today and was totally impressed with both the turnout and the quality of the festival.  This should easily become an annual signature event for Greenville's cultural offerings.  The Governor, Congressman Bob Inglis, and the Earl of  the Sinclair clan were guest speakers at the opening ceremonies.  I noticed many people had traveled across the Atlantic from Scotland to be part of the festivities as well.   

Post any comments, photos, or other related material in this thread.

[Skyliner]

RestedTraveler, on Jun 10 2006, 12:27 PM, said:

$15 just to get in the gate and go hang out a couple of hours and maybe get some photos?!?!  I'm afraid I had to pass on this.  I must have overlooked the fee on the web site, but I was in for a bit of a surprise this morning.  Maybe I'm just used to having all of these sorts of festivals/fairs be free admission, but  in my humble opinion, they should find a way to lower the gate fee and recoup it inside once you're in the gate for next year, if there is a next year.  

Well, I was hit with the same surprise, after paying $5 to park about a half-mile away too.    I couldn't agree more with you on the high fee to get in.  Obviously lots of people didn't see it the same way we did though, because there were plenty of families all over the place this morning.  So upon leaving, I calculated the total of my expenditures for the morning:  $5-parking;  $15-entrance;  $5-program;  $10-pin;  TOTAL= $35!  

[Greenville]

Where in Greenville is the Scottish Games held?

[Skyliner]

Furman University.  This is the inaugural festival of what will hopefully be many generations of annual Highland jubilation in Greenville.

[Skyliner]

Several more from this morning:

[Beowulf]

I just got back.  I'll process my shots and have them online shortly.

I knew about the $15 entrance fee, and debated.  I figured if it helped get this innaugural event started as an annual event, I'd consider it an investment.

I was surprised at the $5 parking fee and the fact that my faculty parking sticker didn't mean a thing, especially since we had to park on the other side of campus.  Fortunately, there were plenty of shuttle buses running.

The layout and organization seemed to be done quite well.  With the heat, there needed to be more free water (water fountains, etc) available.  We were fortunate to have keys and access to buildings, but I don't know how others stood the heat.  Also, one of those misting stations would have been a great idea.

I did marvel at the characters that were standing around in full Scottish garb in this heat, including wool kilt, knee-high woolen socks, and wool jacket.

[Greenville]

Skyliner, on Jun 10 2006, 02:35 PM, said:

I wonder if the guy in the green shirt knows that you captured him checking out the blonde girl beside him?

[Beowulf]

OK, here are a few shots.  I'm just going to post the small version to save bandwidth.  If you want to see the larger shots, click on the link to my Flickr account in my signature.

Piping competition - the droning in this area was almost overwhelming as eight pipers competed simultaneously at eight different stations:


More instrument demonstrations:



I might have to abandon my own Clan Cameron for this new outfit:


Part of the mass pipe band concert:


Border collie demonstration:


A successful caber toss:


Me throwing a battle axe - I actually hit the bullseye three times.  It never stuck in the target.

[gsupstate]

Fantastic photos guys!!!     

I was going to go today, and hate I missed it, but had unexpected company and got way behind schedule.  I was at the parade last night and must say, I could simply not believe the crowd!!  It was like a Mardi Gras parade in the Big Easy!  I really was stunned and shocked at the turnout.    Huge crowd!

Here are a few photos I took at the parade.....unfortunately didn't have the best spot for viewing.

[Skyliner]

Awesome photos, guys!  That mass pipe band was incredible!  Since I did not have the opportunity to make it to the parade last evening, those photos are extra special, gsupstate!

[RestedTraveler]

I admit, I was impressed by the turnout.  I didn't realize there was a parking fee at all, of course, I didn't drive over.  Had I not had family in town visiting this weekend, I would have perhaps been more inclined to invest the $15, but it just seemed like an unnecessary expense when first confronted with it.

These are great photos, y'all.  Thank you for sharing them.  It looks like it turned out to be quite an event.  

[gsupstate]

Here is a Greenville News article with peoples comments on the parade and games.  Glad to see the comment that this event will continue to grow larger!  

http://www.greenvill...320/1004/NEWS01

[gsupstate]

A great opinion piece in todays GV News about what the Scottish Games meant to Greenville, along with history of Upstate and Scottish ties, and some great praise for Greenville.  A three thumbs up read.      


http://www.greenvill...16/1008/OPINION

[gsupstate]

The Scottish Games and Highland Festival will open on June 8 this year.  This year the games and festival will play host to the Southern Pipe Band Championship where aprox. 40 bands will compete.

http://www.greenvill...19016/1005/LIFE

[gsupstate]

Did anybody make it to the parade last weekend?  I wanted to go but was out of town.  Would love to see some photos of this years event, as it was suppose to be much larger.

[silverseale]

gsupstate, on Jun 16 2007, 02:16 PM, said:

Did anybody make it to the parade last weekend?  I wanted to go but was out of town.  Would love to see some photos of this years event, as it was suppose to be much larger.

Hubby and I missed the parade by about 20 minutes, but we stayed for the ceilidh and had a great time! (I have no pics, unfortunately.)

Added: the performances by Hunting McLeod and Albannach were HIGH ENERGY celtic-flavored rock.  

Edited by silverseale, 18 June 2007 - 12:55 PM.

[gsupstate]

The Scottish Games are this weekend, kicking off tonight at 6:00 with a parade on Main Street.

http://www.greenvillegames.org/

[DT-Gville]

Wow, these poor atheletes can't catch a break.  It seems like this always falls on what ends up being one of the hottest days of the summer!  Although, I've volunteered the last two years, the spectators are the ones that don't drink enough water and succumb to the heat.

[gsupstate]

Could anything make Greenville's Scottish Games and Highland Festival any more authentic than to have royalty play in the games?  Prince Edward will be in Greenville this year and will participate in the 2010 games.  So cool.      

http://www.wyff4.com...493/detail.html