APRIL 1999
www.celtic-connection.com
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HIGHLAND DANCERS will compete for coveted prizes at the 1999 Gathering of the Clans to be held in Prince George, B.C.
CLANS GATHER IN PRINCE GEORGE
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The 1999 Gathering of the Clans will be held in Prince George on May 29 at Massey Place Stadium. The program includes a full pipe band performance, and individual piping and drumming competitions.
Opening ceremonies include a full parade by all competitors culminating in a formation at centerfield. The closing ceremonies includes massed band performances and a mass Highland fling. For information regarding piping and drumming, call Marvin Hawke at (250) 561-1961.
Last year, 85 Highland dancers competed in all levels and an even larger contingent is expected this year. For more information about the Highland dance competition, call Karen Baba at (250) 964-8510.
At least two Scottish county dance troupes will give demonstrations and free lessons for those willing to learn country dancing. For more information, contact Robin Sherwood at (250) 562-6621.
The Society for Creative Anachronism — the SCA Shire of Cold
Keep will provide historical recreations for medieval fighting and dance.
Members of this group will also organize the heavy events, including caber toss, tug of war, sheaf toss for men, women and children. Heavy event information is available from Renee McDonald at (250) 552-0371.
In the market area, there will also be a full variety of vendor stalls, featuring Celtic jewelry music, clothing, souvenirs, pottery, candy — anything one would expect to see featured at the Highland Games.
The food concession will also be open all day with something to satisfy everyone's appetite. Throughout the day, hourly program raffle draws will be held on site.
The Prince George Road Runners will again provide a 5 kilometer race that begins at 10 AM in the stadium and brings each runner back into the stadium to cross the finish line.
This run requires registration prior to the event. For information, call Frank Blues at (250) 964-3293.
Children's races will again be offered this year. These events do not require preregistration, just join in the fun when the races are announced. There are ribbons for all winners and participants.
This year's festival logo features the Scottish thistle. T-shirts, hats, shopping bags and other souvenirs can be purchased for $15 each and are now available through any member group. Souvenir programs will also be sold at $3 each. Tickets are new on sale for the highly popular Saturday night Ceilidh after the closing ceremonies.
This year's organizing committee consists of: The Prince George Caledonia Dancers; the 2618 Corps of the Rocky Mountain Army Cadets; the Central Interior Highland Dance Association; the Prince George Pipers Association; and the Prince George Celtic Club.
For more information on the 1999 Gathering of the Clans, call Rita Thomson at (250) 564-0910, or visit their web site at www.princegeorge.com/clans.
"Tartan Day" in North America
In 1998, the United States Senate designated April 6 National Tartan Day. This was followed with the same designation being adopted by many Canadian provinces.
The date marks the Declaration of Arbroath on April 6, 1320 as the Scottish Declaration of Independence, which served as a model for the American Declaration of Independence.
Almost half of the signatories of the American Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, as were the Governors of nine of the original 13 colonies.
Numerous dinners, debates and ceilidhs will be held to mark the event. In New York, the first Annual Scottish Heritage Parade will be held, while in Oklahoma, the state's Lieutenant Governor will be presented with the official Oklahoma Tartan.
At Alexandria, Virginia's celebration of its founding by Scots 250 years ago, there will be a forum featuring speakers from all of Scotland's major political parties contending for seats in the new Parliament, as well as a ceilidh.
A calendar of all the known events elsewhere in North America can be found atwww.tartanday.com
Good tickets still available for
Two Performances-July 10th at 8:00 p.m. and July 11th at 3:00 p.m. at The Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, B.C.
Charge-by-phone (604) 280-4444 or visit any Ticketmaster outlet www.ticketmaster.ca
B.C. HIGHLAND GAMES
SATURDAY JUNE 26/99
AT
COQUITLAM TOWN CENTRE STADIUM COQUITLAM, B.C.
• Pipe bands • Dancing • Sports •Stage Show •Food Concessions
•Refreshment Tent •Competitions Start at 9:00 a.m.
Info: (604) 263-9911
Sponsored by:
United Scottish Cultural Society - Vancouver