Festival to honor Queen Mary's Scottish roots

[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Screen-Shot-2016-01-07-at-3.50.09-PM.png” credit=”Courtesy The ACE Agency” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”The annual ScotsFestival & International Highland Games honors Scottish culture and the legacy of construction of the Queen Mary, which began in the seaside town of Clydebank, Scotland 85 years ago.” captionposition=”right”] The Queen Mary will again host the annual ScotsFestival & International Highland Games XXIII Feb. 13 and 14 from 9am to 6pm. The event will honor the culture and history of Scotland first-hand through an array of activities, athletics, dancing, entertainment and cuisine in ode to the Queen Mary’s Scottish legacy.
Eighty-five years ago, in the seaside town of Clydebank, Scotland, construction began on the Queen Mary. Exemplifying the craftsmanship of the country, the Queen Mary’s legacy is celebrated through the two-day ScotsFestival honoring Scottish culture.
Official opening ceremonies will begin with the traditional Grand Parade of Clans & Bands with an Address to the Haggis. Daily festivities include Border Collie sheep-herding, firing demonstrations, performances by the Scots Greys Calvary, Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Celtic Harp & Wren Iniquity Ensemble and historic re-enactments.
ScotsFestival honors nearly 50 Scottish clans and vendors throughout the weekend with professional and amateur competitions in piping, drumming, massed bands, darts, Highland dancing, and Highland athletics. The Scottish Highland Games, a pre-cursor to today’s Olympic Games, were designed to test the strength, skill and technique of ancient warriors by face-offs.
The Queen Mary’s ScotsFestival hosts world-champion Scottish Highland dancer Kaylee Finnegan and many internationally acclaimed athletes competing for titles in stones, hammer throw, weights for distance, weight over bar, sheaf and the famed caber toss.
Whisky-tasting sessions with aged malt experts and craft beer samplings are available for adult festivalgoers while kids can bear witness to the Queen Mary’s coronation, knighting ceremonies and even take part in the Wee Highland games.
Tickets to ScotsFestival start at $10 online for ages 4 to 11 and $19 online for guests 12 and over. VIP tickets and hotel packages are also available. Visit queenmary.com/events/scotsfestival .