Article Contributed on: 9/25/2009 11:10:02 AM
More than 80,000 attendees descended upon Estes Park from Sept. 10-13 for the 33rd annual Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival.
The festival began in 1976 and has grown to be the largest and most majestic Celtic festivals in the U.S. with more than 50 events including
Jousting competitions, Highland games, musical acts, dance performances and dog show contests as well as plenty of Scottish and Irish food, drink and crafts. More than 40,000 spectators lined the streets for North America's largest Celtic parade on Saturday, September 12th.
The festival kicked off the night of Thursday, Sept. 10 with the Tattoo - a traditional parade ground concert of military bands. The Tattoo, which featured the 1st Battalion Scots Guard from Buckingham Palace and the U.S. Army Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard among others, will also took place on Friday and Saturday evenings.
"When we started the event 33 years ago, it was just two booths in at Centennial Plaza on Elkhorn Avenue," said Dr. James Durward, festival founder. "We are now considered to be one of the five largest events in Colorado. People come for the great food, entertainment and Scottish heritage. This year we also had new events including strongman competitions and heavy armor jousting."
World-class
Jousters headlined the festivities as they vied for the sport's largest purse in skill and accuracy events as well as the all-new heavy armor competition. The Highland games showcased equally talented athletes displaying amazing strength while vying for the U.S. and international pro and amateur championships in the caber toss, hammer and stone throw.
Each day of the festival, Estes Park's breathtaking mountains played backdrop to more than 1,000 Scottish, Irish and Welsh dancers while Celtic rock, folk and traditional bands livened up the clear nights. Those seeking a true glimpse into Celtic culture could top it all off by sampling traditional food and drink as well as browsing the wares of more than 100 importers and crafters of Celtic goods. Visitors also had the chance to research their families' genealogy by visiting the more than 70 Scottish family clan and society booths.
For more information this and next year's festivals, visit www.scotfest.com <
http://www.scotfest.com>.