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Celtic Festival Makes Strong Debut
Rae Ruff enjoyed every minute of the spectacle that unfolded before her at Bell Park Saturday afternoon.
"I really think it's quite amazing," the Sudbury resident said from her perch on a grassy knoll as she watched a performance of Scottish step dancers, then a succession of pipe bands, all in colourful dress.
"I love all the music and the different kilts and tartans," she said. "I'd like to find out the stories behind them all."
Not that it was required, but Ruff also let on she brought some ethnic cred to the inaugural Greater Sudbury Celtic Festival and Highland Games.
"I have a Scottish grandmother and an Irish grandfather. That ought to do it," she laughed.
Ruff was among several hundred area residents, as well as a few dozen visitors to the city, who helped make the festival a success and all but guarantee it will be back next year, said Derek Young, the event's director.
"We're getting lots of great feedback. People are really enjoying the day," Young said. "It's something different for the city, it's fun for people to see. The Celtic culture is a very colourful culture ... in more ways than one."
Given an estimated 60,000 people in the city who have ties to the British Isles, Young said he was not surprised the first attempt at a festival was a success and he expects the event to grow in coming years.
"We want to build on it every year. We want to build it into a tourism destination." (more) |
Celtic festival celebrates music, culture and tradition of Scotland
Games date back to 1500s
As you drive up Paris Street on Saturday, don't be surprised to see a man in a kilt tossing a telephone poll-sized tree.
Highland games date back thousands of years, originating with the Celts of Ireland. However, it was in the 11th century that the Scottish King Malcolm of Canmore solidified this form of athletics into regular competitions, as a moral booster for his troops.
At his "wappinschaws," men competed in contests involving running, leaping, vaulting, wrestling, lifting heavy weights and putting of stones.
It wasn't until 1574 that "tossing of ye barr" first appeared on record. The caber toss and other Scottish sports involving hefting of sheaf bags with a pitchfork over a bar and throwing 28-pound and 56-pound weights on short chains will take place in Bell Park, as part of the Greater Sudbury Celtic Festival and Highland Games.
"It's the first of recent time - sort of a resurrection," said Derek Young, festival director. "This year being the city's 125th anniversary, it's a good way to promote the culture, the heritage, the founding of the city. When you look at the founding of Sudbury as a railroad city, when the CPR came through town, it was actually an invention of Scotch-born Sir Stanford Fleming."
Census data from 2006 shows there are 60,000 people with ties to the British Isles living in Sudbury, so there should be a strong audience for the festival, Young said.
"It just seems like this year, the timing is right to bring this sort of cultural event to the city," he added. "One of the highlights is going to be the Vale Inco Heavy Games." (more) |
1st Celtic Festival and Highland Games
Chief Ian Davidson of the Greater Sudbury Police Service is proud to hold the position of Chieftain of the 1st Greater Sudbury Celtic Festival and Highland Games. This event will be held on Saturday May 24th at Bell Park, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
This festival serves as a celebration of local Scottish and Irish communities, taking into account the cross cultural similarities with French Canadian traditions. Mass Pipe Bands will play at 1200 noon and 5 p.m. with athletic performances from the Vale Inco Scottish Heavy Games as well as local Scottish, Irish and Francophone singers, dancers and musical groups with Duncan Cameron; there will also be police static displays, all with the goal of “Fun, Friends, Food and Folklore.” Bring your family and friends, and enjoy a unique day of entertainment. (more) |
Friends, Fun, Food and Folklore at Inaugural May Celtic Festival
 They are a group of people with a remarkable history and can be described as a collection of tribes with the frame of cultures, music and similarities. Their history is dotted with conflicts and battles between each tribe and their individual leaders, and some may argue that his particular legacy still exists today. They can be traced back to 600 BC. They represent 60,000 plus residents in the City of Greater Sudbury. They are the “Celts!”
On Saturday, May 24, 2008, Bell Park will come alive with pageantry of the massed pipes and drums, the strength and brute force of the Scottish Athletes, the songs, stories and traditions passed down from our Irish, Scottish and French Canadian ancestors, and the smells of traditional meals that will bring back memories from Grandmother’s kitchen. It will be a full day of friends, fun, food, and folklore as we celebrate our Celtic Heritage during the Inaugural Greater Sudbury Celtic Festival and Highland Games. (more) |
Celtic Festival to wow Sudbury
Bell Park will erupt with the wail of bagpipes, Scottish sports, Celtic songs and stories, and the smells of traditional meals during the inaugural Greater Sudbury Celtic Festival and Highland Games on May 24.
 Peddler's Pub in downtown Sudbury was bustling with a preview of what's to come at the launch party for Sudbury's newest festival.
"The timing for this year's inaugural festival is great, given that the City of Greater Sudbury is celebrating its 125th Anniversary, and many of our local pipe bands and community partners are also celebrating milestone anniversaries," said Derek Young, festival director.
"Our goal is to create a flavour locally for the Celtic culture and to celebrate the traditional Celts with a homegrown cultural festival."
The festival will feature local singers, storytellers, historians, the Vale Inco Canadian Federation of Scottish Athletes Heavy Games Exhibition, pipe band performances, food, folklore and vendors promoting traditional crafts, gifts, and unique items.
There will be an evening concert featuring Sudbury's own Duncan Cameron, returning home with his Celtic band, Fig for a Kiss. They will be sharing the stage with Andy Lowe, who will be singing traditional ballads from his CD entitled, Inheritance.
The festival still has spots available for any local singers, dancers, folk bands or storytellers who would like to perform on the Heritage Stage.
Advance festival day passes are $8.50 for adults and are on sale now at the Sudbury Arena Box Office, online at www.greatersudbury.ca, or charge by phone at 671-3000. Tickets will be sold at the door, $10 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. Note: Festival Day Pass does not include activities on May 23 at Peddler's Pub
For more information, call 691-5677 or e-mail celticfestival@persona.ca. (source)
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Credit union supports Greater Sudbury Celtic Festival and Highland Games
The Sudbury Credit Union presented a cheque for $500.00 to the Greater Sudbury Celtic Festival and Highland Games which will held on Saturday, May 24, 2008 in Bell Park. The funds will be used to support local cultural and heritage programming for the festival. (more) |
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