Hutchinson News Article

Published online 9/19/2008 10:07 AM

Scottish festival to feature dance, music in McPherson

By The News staff

McPHERSON - The annual McPherson Scottish Festival is scheduled Sept. 26 to 28 at Lakeside Park in McPherson.

The festival, named a Top 100 event by the American Bus Association, will begin with a free clan fire ceremony and concert by balladeer Alex Beaton at 7 p.m.

Saturday activities feature a Highland dance, athletics, a pipe and drum competition, sheepdog herding, fencing and several other activities.

This year's schedule features a number of children's activities, including children's Highland games and a caber toss.

A free shuttle will run from the McPherson High School parking lot from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Festival tickets are $11 Sept. 27 and $9 Sept. 28 for adults.

Tickets for a Saturday night concert featuring Alex Beaton, the Shortleaf Band, Tairis and Ellis Island, are $15. A Scottish Country Dance Gala is planned for Saturday evening; admission is $8.

For more information, visit www.macfestival.org or call the McPherson Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-324-8022.

 

Salina Journal Article

Scottish Festival makes Top 100

By APRIL MIDDLETON

Salina Journal

McPHERSON -- The McPherson Scottish Festival was designated as one of the "2009 Top 100 Events in North America" by the American Bus Association.

The announcement, made by the Kansas Division of Travel and Tourism, comes just in time for this year's event, which will be Friday through Sunday at Lakeside Park.

"The timing couldn't be more perfect," said Kathy Kajinami, who does promotions for the annual festival.

The McPherson Scottish Festival features athletics, dance, music, vendors and children's activities.

This is the first time the festival, which is in its 15th year, has made the American Bus Association's list.

The top 100 list, which is published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine, highlights fairs, festivals, parades and shows, according to a press release from the association. The top 100 are not ranked.

"It is tremendously exciting," Kajinami said. "We know it is a good festival, but now the world knows."

According to the American Bus Association, the top 100 events were chosen from 524 events nominated by state and provincial tourism officials. The selection committee bases its picks on criteria such as the event's broad appeal and its accessibility to groups arriving by motor coach.

Festival officials estimate that 5,000 people attend the weekend festival each year.

"We are the only two-day Scottish festival in the state, and I have found over the years that many of our attendees like the McPherson event because it's not as large as some of the others in other states," said Judy Casey, director of the McPherson Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The weekend begins at 7 p.m. Friday at the bandshell with a free clan fire ceremony and concert by balladeer Alex Beaton.

On Saturday, there will be Highland dance, athletics, and a pipe and drum competition at 9 a.m. The massed bands and Parade of Tartans will be at noon, and athletic awards will be presented at 4:30 p.m. A rugby demonstration match between the Wichita Barbarians and the Salina Crusaders will start at 2 p.m.

Sunday begins with a nondenominational Kirking of the Tartan church service at 9:30 a.m.

Children's activities and games, as well as Celtic product vendors, British car displays and clan tents, will be featured. Four bands will play an evening concert Saturday.

The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A free shuttle will operate from the McPherson High School parking lot.

Adult festival tickets cost $11 for Saturday and $9 for Sunday. Children 12 and younger are admitted for free. A $1-off coupon is available online at www.macfestival.org. Or, you can order your tickets online by Friday and save $2.

nReporter April Middleton can be reached at 822-1409 or by e-mail at amiddle ton@salina.com.

TravelVideo.TV

The American Bus Association (ABA) recently announced that the McPherson Scottish Festival, to be held in McPherson, Kan. on Sept. 26 – 27, 2009, has been designated as one of the “2009 Top 100 Events in North America” by an by an elite tourism industry selection committee.

The American Bus Association’s top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine, includes events that offer excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world. This is the first year the McPherson Scottish Festival has been named to the ABA’s Top 100 Events list.

The McPherson Scottish Festival is a weekend of traditional Scottish activities, including music, dance, athletic competitions, bagpipers and more! A clan fire ceremony and a Scottish music concert enthrall visitors and kickoff the celebrations. Throughout the weekend, guests can watch Scottish and Irish dancers and clogging or listen as musicians entertain the crowd. Visitors can shop for reproduction swords, handmade walking sticks, imported tartans and Celtic jewelry, and enjoy delicious food including savory Scottish meat pies, turkey legs and buttery bits of Scottish shortbread. This two-day festival culminates in a Saturday evening concert or a Scottish country dance gala. For more information, visit www.macfestival.org or call 800-324-8022.

Can’t wait for 2009 to enjoy the festivities? The 2008 McPherson Scottish Festival takes place Sept. 27 – 28!

“What an honor to have such a fabulous annual event as the McPherson Scottish Festival selected as a top 100 event by the ABA. We hope that this recognition will inspire more people to visit Kansas and attend just one of the multitude of cultural celebrations we have throughout the year,” said Becky Blake, director of the Kansas Division of Travel & Tourism.