The Seanachaidh - Texas Scottish Festival

The Seanachaidh
VOL 27 NO. 1
eNewsletter of the Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games
Spring 2016
The 30th annual TEXAS SCOTTISH FESTIVAL &
HIGHLAND GAMES are scheduled for May
13-14-15th, 2016. Renowned for its outstanding
entertainment, the Festival again features some of
the top Scottish performers in the world including
acclaimed Scottish fiddler and composer Brian
McNeill, Scottish fiddler John Taylor, Balladeer Ed
Miller, and the Scottish/Celtic groups Clandestine,
Jiggernaut, Seamus Stout, Piper Jones Band,
Murder the Stout, Scotland Rising, and Cleghorn in
addition to many other artists and performers.
Featured at our Friday night opening concert is The
Killdares.
The Texas Scottish Festival is
recognized as the number one Scottish festival in
North America for Scottish entertainment and
talent.
The 2016 Highland Games will again be hosting
some of the top Scottish athletes from North
America and include professional, amateur, female,
and novice athletic competitions. Also featured are
Scottish Highland Dance and Scottish National
Dance competitions. The featured and host bagpipe
band will be the championship North Texas
Caledonian Pipes & Drums. Unique foods such as
Scotch Eggs, Haggis, Neeps & Tatties, Fish &
Chips, and the usual festival and international foods will be available. New for 2016 is the
Texas Rugby Tournament and an extensive Genealogy Seminar.
Scheduled events include Professional, Amateur, Female, & Novice Athletics, Scottish Fiddle
Workshop, Children's Games & Activities, Educational Seminars, a Gaelic Language
Seminar, Scottish Country Dancing, a Bonniest Knees Contest, a Scotch Whisky Tasting,
Celtic Harp, Bodhran Drum Workshop, an All-Scottish Breed Dog Show, Lassies Galore, a
feature Ceilidh, Scotch Ale Brewing Competition, Fiddle Faddle, Folk Music, a Shortbread
Contest, three large Entertainment/Pub tents, two Celtic Rock Concerts, and more. If it’s
Scottish, we’ve got it!
---See page 3 for a list of activities---
30th Annual
Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games
Join our Internet Groups
The Seanachaidh is a publication of the Texas
Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the
Texas Scottish Festival Association, and
Arlington Highland Games, Inc., a nonprofit
organization dedicated to the promotion,
study, and preservation of Scottish, Gaelic, &
Celtic traditions, history, music and culture. All
correspondence should be addressed to the
TSF&HG offices.
Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games
Texas Scottish Festival Association
Post Office Box 511
Clifton, Texas 76634
Telephone (800) 363-SCOT (7268);
Fax (254)675-3273
E mail:
[email protected]
Web Page:
http://www.TexasScottishFestival.com
Supporters of
The Texas Scottish Festival has an online
presence with a support group on FaceBook.
Check the site and join to find up-to-date
information and visit with others about the
Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games.
Click on the link below—
TSF&HG FaceBook Site
TSF&HG Committee Chairpersons
Executive Director / Ray McDonald
Director of Operations / Fred Stewart
Field Operations / Thomas King
Operations Ombudsman / Scott Davis
Entertainment Chairman / Craig Van Winkle
Ticket Office / Rebecca Hopkins, Caitlin McDonald
Volunteer Coordinator / Trish Williamson
Info / Dog Rescue Groups / Rebecca Hopkins
Sound & Schedules / David Glass
Clans & Societies / Gordon Parmalee & Fred Stewart
T-Shirt sales / Wendy Walker Davis
Highland Dance Chairman / Diane Krugh
Festival Pipe Major / Bob Richardson
Festival Program / Jeannie Beal
Badges / John Beal
Athletics Chairman / Aaron Woods
Vendor Chairman / Fred Stewart
Beverage Chairman / Will Ross
Beverage Committee / Frank Salazar
Ice / Andrew Schmoke
Church & Kirking / Trish Williamson
Shortbread Contest / Jeanie Beal
Chaplain / open
Patrons / Terry McDonald
Solicitor / Kathryn Lanford
Scottish Country Dancing / Lisa Polk
Scottish Harp / Rebekah Passmore
Dog Events Chairperson / Susan Crutcher
Publicity / open
Trophies & Awards / John McInnis
Operations Emeritus / F. M. Daniels
Photo Contest / Jim McCrain
Bonniest Knees / Cindi Newell
Children’s Events / Hazel Greene
Rugby / John Crawford & Aaron Robertson
Whisky Tasting & Seminars / Sib Woehr
Scotch Ale Contest / Jamie Kirmser
Education Coordinator / Cynthia Repasky
Web Site / Jim McCrain
The 30th Annual
Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games
May 13- 15, 2016
Maverick Stadium
University of Texas at Arlington
5:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday
Scheduled Activities
Generally in the order of 1st appearance
Friday
Genealogy Seminar (all day)
Scottish Vendors & Crafts
Pub Tents & Celtic Music
Scottish Food & Drink
Novice Athletic Competition
Patrons BBQ
Calling of the Clans
Concert featuring The Killdares
Scheduled Entertainers
Brian McNeill
Ed Miller
Jiggernaut
FW Scottish Pipes & Drums
Tullamore
Clandestine
Cleghorn
Seamus Stout
Jed Marum
Piper Jones Band
The Selkie Girls
Scottish Thunder
Jil Chambless & Scooter Muse
Margaret Gravitt
Murder the Stout
Scotland Rising
The Killdares
and special host bagpipe band:
North Texas Caledonian
Pipes & Drums
Saturday
Scottish Vendors & Crafts
Clan & Society Tents
Scottish Breed Dog Show
Pub Tents & Celtic Music
Scottish Food & Drink
Educational Seminars
Rugby Tournament
Highland Dance Competitions
Bagpipe Band Performances
Children's Events
Amateur Athletics / Professional Athletics
Scottish Country Dancing
Shortbread Competition
Bonniest Knees Contest
Scotch Whisky Tasting
Lassies Galore with Emily
Fiddle Faddle with Brian McNeill
Sunday
Kirking Services
Scottish Vendors & Crafts
Clan & Society Tents
Masters Athletics / Female Athletics
Pub Tents & Celtic Music
Scottish National Dance Competitions
Bagpipe Band Performances
Children's Events
Scottish Fiddle Workshop
Educational Seminars
Finale
The 30th Annual
Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games
Pipes of the Executive
Director
HOST HOTEL for 2016
February 15, 2016
Dear Members
I am so looking forward to our 30th
anniversary festival this year. As always we
have a great line up of performers and events
Be sure to take advantage of our
‘valuable’ discount coupons found in this
newsletter.
Enclose them with your ticket
order form, remembering to deduct the
amount of the discount you are using.
Again I hope that you, our wonderful
TSFA membership and supporters, can
volunteer a couple of hours to assist us. See
you in MAY!!!!
Ray McDonald
Volunteers Needed
If you can volunteer two hours sometime
during the festival, we do need your help.
Please download the Volunteer Form from the
website or email Trish Williamson, our
Festival volunteer chairperson and Volunteer
coordinator: [email protected]
Link to Volunteer & Registration Forms:
click here for Volunteer Forms
!
Quality Inn-Arlington Highlands
121 I-20 East @ Matlock Road, Arlington,
Texas
Book Early for BIG SAVINGS
Reservation Telephone: 817-467-3535
Mention “Scottish Festival” rates
The Quality Inn at Arlington Highlands will be
the weekend festival HQ when not on site and
the accommodation for all our entertainers,
judges, and competitors. We have the entire
hotel so we can customize the weekend for
our Scottish Festival attendees. The Quality
Inn is only 4 miles from Maverick Stadium, our
festival site, and is located near our original
home, the former Caelum Moor. NOTE--Be
sure to identify yourself as attending the
Scottish Festival or they may inform you that
the hotel is blocked. Of course it is blocked for
us, but you must inform the hotel your are in
the Scottish Festival group. Book early for
rates as low as $73.50
For additional Travel information contact
the Arlington Convention and Visitors
Bureau.
Visitors Information Center
(800) 342-4305 (Toll Free)
http://www.arlington.org/
$10
Discount Coupon
$10
Apply this coupon towards the purchase
of a 2016 Patrons Package
(Limit one coupon per Patrons package)
Coupon Expires April 15, 2016
If you have already paid full price for a Patrons Package
you may use this coupon for an additional T-Shirt voucher
(You must send a self addressed stamped envelope and coupon to receive vouchers.)
$10
Discount Coupon
$10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coupon Page
--Print this page--
Order Tickets Now
Include your discount coupon with your Ticket Order Form
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20
Discount Coupon
$20
Apply this coupon towards the purchase
of a 2016 Sustaining Patrons Package
(Limit one coupon per Sustaining Patrons Package)
Coupon Expires April 15, 2016
If you have already paid full price for a Patrons Package
you may use this coupon for two additional T-Shirt vouchers
(You must send a self addressed stamped envelope and coupon to receive vouchers.)
$20
Discount Coupon
$20
The 30th Annual
Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games
2016
Registration Forms
Information and/or Entry forms for the
following events will be available on our web
site:
Registration Forms Link
Clan Registration
Bagpipe Band Competition
Highland Dance Competitions
Shortbread Contest
Celtic Brew Contest
Scottish Breed Dog Show
Vendor Forms
Volunteer Form
Tartan Pass for 2016
To encourage clan participation on Friday
evening, the Texas Scottish Festival has
continued the special Tartan Pass admission
package for the weekend. The Tartan Pass
will include an admission ticket for each day, a
festival program, and a Friday Welcome BBQ
ticket. This is a great value at $50.00 per
person. We encourage you to take advantage
of this package. Enjoy the excellent BBQ, the
complementary beverages, desert, and then
enjoy the Calling of the Clans. Of course stay
for the Celtic-rock show following.
NEW For 2016
Genealogy Seminar
Stadium Parking
UTA has indicated that they may charge for
parking this year. As of date we have no
information as to amount to be charged if they
decide to do it. If so our Ticket Packages will
not include parking this year.
Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games
Advance Ticket Order Form
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Friday or Sunday Tickets! !
!
!
!
Saturday Only Tickets
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
_____Adults / per day--$12.00
!
(gate price $18.00)
!
!
_____Children (6-12) $4.00
circle day requested
_____Adults -$8.00 !
!
!
!
!
!
(gate price $12.00) circle day needed ! !
!
(Friday admission includes ceilidh & concert)!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
_____Teen (13-17) $7.00! !
!
!
!
_____Children (6-12) per day $4.00!
!
_____Teen (13-17) $7.00
_____Tartan Pass Package / $50.00 per adult
includes daily admission Friday-Saturday-Sunday
Festival Program and Howdy BBQ Ticket
_____Weekend Admission Pass / $25.00 per adult
includes daily admission Friday-Saturday-Sunday
Festival Program included with purchase of 2 or more Weekend Passes
_____Weekend Admission Pass / $15.00 per teen (13-17)
_____Weekend Admission Pass / $9.00 per child (6-12)
_____Patrons Package / $95.00 per person
includes daily admission F-S-S , Howdy BBQ, Festival T-shirt, Program, Program listing,
Patrons Club (in press box), and more.
_____Sustaining Patrons Package / $295.00
includes two complete Patrons packages (see above), Complementary bottle of single malt scotch whisky,
two tickets to Scotch Whisky tasting (on site), Special listing in Program, Patrons Club (in press box),
Chilled bottled water, Five raffle tickets ($20.00 value), and more
Amount Enclosed
$_______________
!
Name (s) _____________________________________________________________________________________
!
Address______________________________________________________________________________________
!
City_____________________________________________State_______________ Zip Code__________________
!
Email Address (for TSF membership-not to be shared) ____________________________________________________
Discount advance tickets are available by mail only if received by April 25th.
Please include a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope or a $1 bill to cover postage & handling.
Orders without return postage may be picked up at the will-call window at the event.
Add your totals and send Order Form to:
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Texas Scottish Festival Tickets
Post Office Box 511
Clifton, Texas 76634
Why Support the TSF&HG?
You do support the festival you say. You come every year, pay for your Patrons Package, and sit in
the hot sun for three days. Yes you do, and we thank you for it. We could not make this happen every
year without you. Heritage festivals across the US used to be a dime a dozen, but you might have
noticed lately that they are growing fewer and fewer. Sources of funding, both corporate and civic,
have gradually dried up, there is a lot of competition for your attention and your dollars, and the cost
of everything from insurance to rental fees to gas has skyrocketed. Gloomy picture is it not?
For the TSF&HG the picture is far from gloomy. Now in our 30th year, we are still going strong, and
recognized as one of the largest and most preeminent Scottish music festivals in North America,
offering the best in local and international talent, world-class athletics and dance competition, not to
mention enough education and cultural events, and food and merchandise vendors to keep you
occupied for days. Yes, we will be raising our Patrons Package fees this year, for the first time in 16
years, and we’re still a bargain by anyone’s estimation. Buying a concert ticket for any of our
headliners will cost your more than your three days’ admission to the festival where you get to hear
them perform not just once, but several times. And unlike many festivals you get everything we offer
for one fee; there are no separate charges for seminars, the Friday night ceilidh, the Calling of the
Clans, or any other event at the festival.
As important as ticket sales are to the festival, of even more importance is your “intangible” support.
Amazingly, there are people who have lived in the metroplex their entire lives who do not know about
the Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games. Do you tell folks what a great festival we have? Invite
them to come out? Do you talk about all the great things the festival has to offer? Call your local news
stations and ask that they cover the event? You, our patrons, volunteers, and loyal festival-goers are
all very important to us and we could not make it happen every year without you.
We have a festival to be proud of but it doesn’t happen without a lot of sustained work and support.
Thanks for all you do to help us make this happen for the last 29 years. Here’s to the next 30.