More than men in skirts
The 11th annual Highland Games & Celtic Festival was indeed here. The Richmond Raceway Complex fairgrounds was transformed recently with thriving music, colorful flags and the traditional cloaks, kilts and dress of the Scotch, Irish and Welsh.
Inside the gates, bagpipe players played and vendors sold Celtic memoirs- such as a sword made of Damascus steel and modeled after ones used in “The Lord of The Rings” and a silver handcrafted Celtic cross like the ones made centuries ago.
The 11th annual Highland Games & Celtic Festival was indeed here. The Richmond Raceway Complex fairgrounds was transformed recently with thriving music, colorful flags and the traditional cloaks, kilts and dress of the Scotch, Irish and Welsh.
Inside the gates, bagpipe players played and vendors sold Celtic memoirs- such as a sword made of Damascus steel and modeled after ones used in “The Lord of The Rings” and a silver handcrafted Celtic cross like the ones made centuries ago.
The North American Highland Games championship included the throwing of open-Braemar stones, an ancestor of today’s shot-put. At the Caber Toss, the highland games’ signature event, contestants tossed a long 90- to 150-pound wooden pole to demonstrate their strength.
“The events are fun, and the camaraderie is great,” said Adam Guasch-Melendez.
“Spending time with great people, while doing slightly crazy things and, most importantly, challenging yourself to perform better today than you did last time, is a pretty cool way to spend a day.”
Stone and wooden Celtic crosses, hand blown glass ornaments, silver and putter handcrafted jewelry, soap, swords and daggers were sold. Patrons wore garments from Celtic times such as Saffron shirts, velvet short highland jackets, long linen pleated shirts, knee-high boots, “brats” or cloaks, and kilts in different colors and plaids.
About 60 clans from Scotland, Ireland and Wales set up different tents and booths.
“The Celtic Fair has been a hoot,” said Farha Quadri, a food vendor from the O’Tool clan. “I got to work here with my friend and I got to look at hot guys in kilts.”
The food, a mixture of American and traditional Scotch and Irish dishes, included Haggis, sheppard’s pie, sausage rolls, Scottish eggs, meat pies and, of course, good old Irish Whiskey.
“This fair is a fun event,” said Curry Roberts, president of State Fair organization. “It creates a whole atmosphere of history and connectedness that can’t be found anywhere else. Plus, where are you going to find people wearing kilts?”
