ESTES PARK – Preparations are complete and Estes Park is ready to host visitors direct from Great Britain, Canada and locales throughout the United States for the annual pageantry known as the Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival. Festival events occur between Thursday, Sept. 8 and Sunday, Sept. 11.
Now in its 35th year, this rite heralds everything Scottish – from the haunting, yet exhilarating sound of bagpipes in crisp mountain air to brogues to malt beverage and the rhythmic sound of Scottish and Irish footsteps on a dance floor. It is the largest Scottish Festival in the nation.
There will be an hour-long parade through downtown Estes Park on Saturday morning (9:30 a.m. Sept. 10), evening tattoos (massed pipe bands in evening, outdoor concert performances), pipe band and folk concerts, International Jousting Championships, athletics, Dogs of the British Isles, dancers, musicians, scotch tasting, Estes Celtic Concerts, clan gatherings, food and crafts, all comprising a veritable encyclopedia of all things Celtic.
Guest bands appearing at this year’s show include the U.S. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Band, and the 1st Battalion Scots Guards Pipes & Drums from Great Britain . Also appearing will be the United States Air Force Drill Team.
Activities in Estes Park kick off at 7:30 p.m. with the first of three evening performances (also known as tattoos) at the Stanley Park Fairgrounds.
Daytime schedules Sept. 9, 10 and 11 include performers on the field: Alex Beaton, Brigadoons, Albannach, Loch Carron, Tartan Terrors, Arvel Bird, Sligo Rags and Brother. The 7:30 p.m. tattoo at the Fairgrounds at Stanley Park arena coincides with the evening’s Celtic Concerts featuring Arvel Bird, Alex Beaton, The Brigadoons, and Sligo Rags. Beginning at 10:30 p.m., the late night performers Loch Carron, Tartan Terrors, Brother and Albannach entertain. The evening concert is repeated on Saturday evening, Sept. 10. Both evenings, the entertainment will be at the Estes Park Conference Center , 201 S. St. Vrain Ave.
Festival grounds ( Stanley Park adjacent to U.S. Hwy. 36 at community Drive) open for activity from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, Saturday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 11. There people can enjoy the clan gatherings, music, dance and athletic competitions, exhibitions, Dogs of the British Isles on parade, merchants, food, drink, crafts and music.
The U.S. International Championships in jousting feature teams from Canada , Great Britain and the U.S. who are vying for the world’s largest purse (cash prizes) in Jousting. Men’s and women’s Scottish athletic events add to the excitement, as do competitions for Irish and Scottish dancers, regional pipe bands, folk musicians and more.
Ticket prices are: adult one day field passes for $20; adult field pass for three days are $58; children 5 to 10 years old one-day field passes for $5; 11-16 year old one day field passes are $10. There is no admittance fee for children four and under. Concert tickets are $25.
For more about the Festival visit www.Scotfest.com. Tickets can be purchased on line at: http://scotfest.thundertix.com.
