ITHACA
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SCOTTISH GAMES & CELTIC FESTIVAL
June 30th - July 1st 2012 Stewart Park
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Schedule
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Getting Here
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WELCOME!Passed down for centuries, a Scottish Games brings together Bagpipe Bands, Scottish Heavy Athletes and Highland Dancers to compete for standings in the United States and in the world. The competition is fierce and the demands are high, with dedicated families and bands traveling nearly every weekend during the summer months for competitions. As implied in the name of the Festival, the Ithaca Scottish Games & Celtic Festival is not limited to Scottish activities, but also to celebrating Irish history as well. It has been a priority of festival organizers to build a strong foundation so that over time the festival would grow into something unique and of solid quality. Since the launch in 2008, the festival has been steadily growing with the addition of an event or two to each year. In 2011, we changed the date to the last weekend in June and a full day of Sunday activities. In 2012 we will be hosting a Grade I and II level bagpipe band competition (that's like the Grateful Dead showing up at Grassroots fest!). The Festival seeks to continue uniting the seemingly endless pool of local Celtic talent by providing them a venue to showcase their passions. In Central New York alone, there is a world reknowned bagpipe maker, kilt maker, Irish pipes maker, Lute specialist, Celtic jeweler, world ranked sheep herder, a Gaelic professor, Scottish Country dancers, a dedicated spinners guild, a distillery, a Scottish winery and there's even a highland cattle farm (to name a few). If you have something to add, please reach out and let us know! The Ithaca Scottish Games & Celtic Festival is honored to announce an official partnership with the History Center in Tompkins County. Check out the activities we've got planned! Enjoy the Festival! Mary Archin, Producer
Festival Overview
EVENTS DESCRIPTIONSMASSED BANDS: The music of the bagpipe has come to symbolize the music of the Games and, indeed, of Scotland itself. For many who attend the Highland Games, the most memorable event of all is the massing of the pipe bands. This simultaneous performance by many pipe bands results in a thunderous rendition of traditional favorites such as Scotland the Brave, Amazing Grace, and other crowd-pleasing favorites. It is a truly inspiring way to close any festival! SCOTTISH HEAVY ATHLETICS COMPETITION: The Athletics are a favorite at a Scottish Games as there is nothing more exhilarating than watching the Athletes flip a 20 foot telephone pole in a perfect straight line - everyone becomes a caber toss expert if it's their 1st or 50th time seeing it done and for that fact alone, people drive in from across the Northeast to watch the games. In 2010 there was a nearly missed attempt at a world record - we wish him luck in 2011! Also this summer, we will add more athletic events for Sunday, including a women’s competition and an amateur competition so locals can try their strength! BAGPIPE BAND COMPETITION: For most bands, the Ithaca Scottish Games will serve as their first try at their competition piece for the whole competition season. Bands will have practiced throughout the winter and will spend the summer months going from Festival to Festival as they vie for standings in our region and in the country. In-between each band that plays, perhaps the judges will explain what they are looking for and why, like they did last year! DRUM & PIPE SOLO COMPETITION: Get to the festival early to catch solo bagpipe and drum competitors perform in front of judges on the lake.HIGHLAND DANCE PERFORMANCES: Scottish Highland dance is a competitive and technical art form that requires many years of training and practice to perfect. The rigor and dedication required to master Highland dance have much in common with ballet. Come see these traditional dances performed throughout the weekend.IRISH STEP DANCE: Irish step dancing, original to Ireland, is based upon traditional folk dance. Irish step dancing has received a recent boost in popularity by the show "Riverdance" and interest in the form continues to grow. By 2012, ISG will host an Irish Dance competition on Sunday. NEW! SUNDAY DANCE CLASS: Following last year's success at the dance class showcase, we will have free classes officially in 2011 including Irish step dance, Highland Dance and Scottish country dance. Check the Kids tent schedule for times. NEW! THE HISTORY CENTER ACTORS: We will have costumed actors roaming the festival ready to share the Living History of West End/Stewart Park and the Waterfront History running throughout the day. You can learn a thing or two and have fun doing it! NEW! RUGBY 7’s: Originating in Melrose, Scotland, the Scots are proud as can be that this game will be making its long awaited Olympic debut at the 2016 Olympics. ISG plans to support this accomplishment by teaching and playing it at the 2011 festival and the years leading up to the 2016 Olympics. The intention is to build this event into a sanctioned tournament on the international Rugby 7s circuit. KIDS ACTIVITIES TENT: We have arts & crafts, small animals, story time, parachute games, races, athletic events and the ever popular clan scavenger hunt (kids are divided into clans and they run from place to place doing things like; learning how to say their name in Gaelic, blowing a steady note on a bagpipe practice chanter). This year the kids' activities area will be sectioned off to make the space more integrated. ENTERTAINMENT TENT: ISG didn't need to look far from home to create a stellar line-up for this year's entertainment tent. You won't want to miss the performances by our very own Celtic band Traonach or Uillean Pipes maker and performer Nick Witmer. We will also have lively performances by Irish Marty Brandon, Doolin' o'Dey, Ceol Mor, Hodgson-Manning and, Kathy Selby and John Wobus will play traditional Scottish music! Check the tent for the final schedule. NEW! 5K CHARITY RACE: ISG will host its first charity race in celebration of the new Waterfront Trail Sunday morning, June 26th. Runners will enjoy a morning run along the lake before the day’s festivities! Registration forms are available a few tabs over...THE CEILIDH: A Ceilidh is a celebration at the end of the competition. The music is cheerful and lively, and the basic steps can be learned easily; a short instructional session is often provided for new dancers before the start of the dance itself. SHEEP SHEARING DEMONSTRATIONS: Bill Cournoyer makes the trip up from Mystic, CT to join in the festivities. Besides being a nice guy, he is quite the authority on sheep shearing and gives talks at Cornell University. VENDORS: “As close to Scotland as you can get” was a quote from last year’s games and that just about sums up the feelings of the festival vendors. You can find authentic meat pies, Scottish sodas, and plenty of kilts to choose from. CLAN TENTS: The various clan societies make the Highland games one of the main focus of their seasonal activities, usually making an appearance at as many such events as possible. Visitors can find out information about their Scottish roots and can become active in their own clan society if they wish. If you are curious about your roots, stop by the Scottish American Society Clan tent and they can help you find your clan! NEW! HISTORY CENTER FACTS: ISG and the History Center are compiling the quirky historical facts that relate to Celtic history as well as how it relates to Tompkins County. Signs posted throughout the festival will have bits of info and possibly a pop-quiz for a prize? This display will play-off the Scottish History talks hosted by the Finger Lakes Pipe Band of Ithaca at the History Center the Thursday before the festival.
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dancer feet
sheep
tartan march
engle massed bands
girl with painted face
girls
patrick monologue
ij neighborhood on stage
ij joyce geier
bilde-3
sheeeeeep
haggis powered
pipes mark
scottish dancers feet
stewardpark
pipers in the sun
violin twins
Schedule
Festival Schedule Note: Live Music, Dance and Kids Activities schedules will be posted outside their respective area, please refer to the festival map.Weekend long events: Scottish Heavy Athletics Competition, Wool Spinning Demonstrations from the Black Sheep Spinners Guild, Clan Ancestry Information, Sheep Shearing with Bill Cournoyer, Wine & Beer Garden, Celtic Crafts & Foods, Live Music, Fun Facts with the History Center, Healing Arts Area, Irish Step Dance & Scottish Highland Dance Performances, a performance by the Ithaca Shakespeare Company and non-stop activities for the kids.
Saturday, June 30th, 201212:00pm - 8:00pm(schedule subject to change)Highlights: 12:00pm Opening Ceremonies -A Professional Men’s Athletics -A 1:00pm Grade I & II Band Competition -B 5:30pm Massed Bands -A 6:00pm Ceilidh -MT Sunday, July 1st, 201210:00am - 6:00pm(schedule subject to change)Highlights: 10:00am 5K on the Waterfront Trail Masters & Women’s Athletics -A Grade III, IV & V solo competition Highland dance competition 12:00pm Grade III, IV & V band competition - B Rugby 7’s Exhibition - TBD 3:00pm Amateur Athletics -B 5:30pm Massed Bands -A___________________A – Field A B – Field BMT – Music Tent
2011 Stewart Park Map - program.jpg
Click to enlarge
Registration Forms
BAGPIPE BAND & SOLO COMPETITION
Sanction Guide.pdf
Want to Compete.pdf
HIGHLAND ATHLETICSFor Mens & Womens Professional Entry Forms, please contact: Matt Hand, Athletic Director matt.hand.mh_gmail.com | 585-610-7928
RUGBY 7's EXHIBITIONPlease contact the Ithaca Avengers Rugby Club directly if you are a team interested in participating: Ithacarugby_gmail.com5K CHARITY RUN (on the Waterfront Trail) Proceeds from this race will go towards completion of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Race start: July 1st, 2012 _ 10amStewart Park Main Pavilion
HIGHLAND DANCE TBD
Tickets
Tickets!Well folks, we tried to keep this a free festival but as we grow so too do our expenses. Our fee scale is as follows: Adults: $12 Students & Seniors: $5 Kids 12 and under: free There are no advance sale tickets as of yet, but group discounts are available. If you are arriving in a large group or by charter bus, please contact the festival at: info_ithacascottishgames.com
Getting Here
Ithaca is Gorges! HOTEL: The Official Hotel for the 2011 Ithaca Scottish Games and Celtic Festival is TBD.PARKING: Parking inside Stewart Park is limited, but there is additional parking at Boynton Middle School as well as Ithaca High School - shuttle buses will be provided. Please be patient and respectful of ISG staff, security and the police when they give you direction, as they are there to help you get to the festival as quickly as possible. Handicapped parking will be reserved near the festival site. A few parking suggestions: If you want a spot inside the park, get there early! If you are local, try and arrive via TCAT bus or ride your bikes along the Waterfront Trail. Bike parking will be provided at the festival. If you are from out of town, car pool if you can. When you arrive at Stewart Park, there will be directional signage as well as staff showing you where to go. Chances are if you arrive after 1pm, you'll be ushered to one of the school parking lots.Click HERE for directions to Stewart Park.Click HERE for directions to Boynton Middle School.Click HERE for directions to Ithaca High School. ABOUT ITHACA: To find out more of what Ithaca has to offer, please stop by the Visitor Center on your way in or out of town. To book hotels, find camping, try out a restaurant, visit one of our wineries or hike a trail, go to: www.VisitIthaca.com
In the Field
Entertainment Tent!TraonachIrish MartyDoolin O'DeyNick WhitmerHodgson - ManningMark & Kate CushingKathy Selby & John Wobus Contra DanceField Demonstrations: Black Sheep Spinners GuildSheep Shearing - Bill CournoyerKids Activites AreaRugby 7's workshopCarle School of Irish DanceKinlough Academy of DanceHighland dancersHarp Circle with Mary LesterFood Vendors: Camerons Scottish MarketScottish Gourmet USABella PizzaCayuga Lake CreameryInfamous Welsh Cookie CompanyCraft Vendors: The Celtic CottageCeltic WholesalersLords of the SeasLa Wrens NestFairie FeyMostly Celtic BeadworkMrs. MacGregors AtticSunflower Trading Co. Casta Diva CorsetsClass Act ImportsThe Kilt RoomCushing Bagpipe Co. Mobile ATMCinda Bey - Face PaintingParticipating Clans: GrantHallDonaldSinclairCampbellScottish American Society of the Southern TierCommunity Organizations: Ithaca Health AllianceThe History Center in Tompkins CountyThe Finger Lakes Pipe Band of Ithaca, NY
fairy fey and little boy
ice cream
wayne
infamous - got scotch
vendor shot
row of kilts
spinning
jewelry
Support Us
Become a Festival Patron!$125 - $500The greatest reward for becoming a patron of the Ithaca Scottish Games & Celtic Festival is the sense of pride you will feel at being a partner in North America's pre-eminent Celtic event. But as a patron you also receive these benefits: Highlander: $500 * Recognition in the program if received before 5/11 * 4 x Free T-shirts * 4 x Free refreshments in the Entertainment Tent * 2 x Reserved parking, near the front gates * Tax receiptPipe Major: $250 * Recognition in the program if received before 5/11 * 2 x Free T-shirts * 1 x Reserved parking, near front gates * Tax receiptDrum Major: $125 * Recognition in the program if received before 5/11 * 2 x Free T-shirts * Tax receipt
Festival Business Sponsorship$1,000 - $8,000If you are a business looking to sponsor the festival and would like a sponsor proposal, please contact us at: Info_IthacaScottishGames.comWe are currently looking into support for the following: Women's and Amateur Athletics competitionLocal musician payoutWinning Band Prize moneyThe many acivities that our kids area has to offerAir conditioning in the main pavilion
Contact
collum piper at the lake
lilt dancers
irsih band sitting
Festival office:
304 N. Geneva St.Ithaca, NY 14850Ph: (607) 280-2113Email: info_IthacaScottishGames.comFestival venue: Stewart Park on Cayuga LakeGardner ParkwayIthaca, NY 14850Click HERE for directions.
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