Summerside Highland Gathering

Location: summerside, Prince Edward Island (View Map)
Dates: June 22, 2012 - June 24, 2012
Website: http://www.collegeofpiping.com
Festival Details:

Visit the clan tents, stroll around the different vendors, and browse through the Celtic gifts. Then catch your breath and refuel with some delicious food and a nice cold drink. The entire weekend is a great big Ceilidh - relax in the entertainment tent where you can sit in the shade and enjoy the musical talents of East coast favourites.

Whether you spend the afternoon in the entertainment tent, watching the competitors in action, or take part in an evening Ceilidh, you will feel a kinship toward the music, the song, and most importantly, the people.

This is a little of what you will encounter when you walk onto the Summerside Highland Games field. The Games are a celebration of the Highland arts of piping, dancing, drumming, and all things Scottish. The piping part of the day begins early with the solo competitions in the morning. It may be confusing at first as there will be various people hanging about in the bushes playing their pipes. They are not purposely trying to annoy you, they’re tuning up for the competition.

Next to the bagpipe playing area there is a small table behind which sits a grumpy, possibly disheveled individual who alternately listens intently, scribbles illegibly on a paper, or simply holds his head in his hands, weeping. Make no attempt at discourse with this person he is the judge. They are best left alone.

While taking in the other solo events dancing, and drumming it is good to keep these guidelines in mind: those tiny adorable, innocuous looking dancers are some of the fiercest competitors around. You need only observe their expressions during the Irish Jig to know they mean business.

In addition to the competitions are concerts, a children's area, entertainment, and a beer tent, where the judges seem a little less on edge.

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