Celtic Fest Weekend
Bizarre, food, Fun September 26th, 2009Each September my town hosts the Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival, a celebration of Celtic culture with music, food and athletic competitions involving big burly men.
In kilts.
Here’s an example of a kilt-clad burly man throwing a 56lb. (25.5kg) block across the grass, as I stood on the sidelines hoping the officials knew when to duck.
One of the longest food lines was at this stand. If you don’t know what it is, I suggest you stay ignorant. It’s not for the weak of stomach.
If you don’t look it up, perhaps you can guess what’s in it by looking at it on a plate. And, no, it’s not impolite to ask a complete stranger if you can take a picture of his haggis. As long as you ask nicely. I didn’t even have to flash my blogger badge.
Looks a little like cat food, no? Meow.
About a thousand men walked the grounds in really gorgeous kilts, some with cute knees to match. It’s easy to get used to seeing men in skirts when they look like this.
Not half-bad!
Or this. Beautiful!
But then there’s this. GI Joe kilt!
And then ….. well. This.
Gotta hand it to this guy. Nobody’s gonna make fun of him for wearing a skirt. Nobody.
Stumble it!
September 26th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
I think the guy with the tattoos is related to Axl Rose!
.-= redkathy´s last blog ..Foodstuff – Quick Dill or Cheesy Biscuits =-.
September 26th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I’m of Scottish descent, and my wife’s always trying to get me to wear a kilt…
…but it looks like a dress to me, although like you said, I wouldn’t tell that last guy. Nyuh.
.-= unfinishedrambler´s last blog ..Cocaine Blues =-.
September 26th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I always want to buy a kilt. I wonder if that one website is still selling custom kilts. Kiltsrus.com I think.
September 26th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
I must admit to liking a Scotsman in a kilt. I think they look quite manly with all the gear on too. Not too sure about the others though. They look a bit like an excuse to wear a skirt. No, it just HAS to be a Scottish kilt for me.
As for the Haggis…..Yuckkkkk!
I had a kilt back in the 60′s. It was burgundy and really heavy and lovely and…. Oh, I loved wearing it!
.-= babs – beetle´s last blog ..I must go down to the sea today…. =-.
September 26th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Sounds like fun.
Yep. I’m of Scottish descent but I’ll pass on the haggis.
.-= ReformingGeek´s last blog ..Geek Morphs into Zombie Poet =-.
September 26th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I went to the Renaissance Festival a few weeks ago, it was the Celtic weekend or something like that. Every guy was walking around in a kilt. Some very nice. I saw many that were very manly. Honestly I don’t know why more men don’t wear them. I’d make life a lot more interesting. As for the Haggis, no thank you. I tried it once and that was enough though it is better than Lutefisk.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Thank You =-.
September 26th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Me too Babs I am with you. They do have a certain charm! I avoided the Haggis Kathy. Thanks but no thanks!!
September 26th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Thank you for not revealing what is inside haggis. Only a truly sadistic and insensitive blogger would be sick enough to list the ingredients of disgusting food substances. I’m so glad the you and I are above that kind of thing.
.-= Jeff´s last blog ..On my mind =-.
September 26th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Well, no – I certainly am not going to make fun of that guy in the last picture. Not until I’m out of earshot anyway.
Seriously, I keep thinking he must be Garth from Wayne’s World – on a bizarre haggis bender.
.-= Lidian´s last blog ..Getting Set For Life =-.
September 26th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
My father’s family is Scottish and used to go every year to our local St. Andrew’s celebration. I tried haggis for the first (and only) time there. It was truly one of the most revolting things I’ve ever eaten. And I’ve had pickled herring.
.-= Christy´s last blog ..Strange Stuff Today =-.
September 26th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
So, did you accidentally trip near the kilt wearing lads and see if they was wearing anything underneath??? Did ya?
.-= MA Fat Woman´s last blog ..Be Very Very Afraid =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:23 am
I have a couple of friends who play the bagpipes but I am still not sure I could wear a skirt myself. But then again I am descended from Mediterranean stock, not Scottish so I am off the hook.
.-= Will´s last blog ..Pesticide Exposure Can Affect Offspring =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 4:38 am
First of all, the haggis looks like something I would really enjoy!
Secondly, Harley wants to know where he can buy a kilt. A cat-sized kilt.
.-= Daisy the Curly Cat´s last blog ..Sunday Comics with Daisy! =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 5:29 am
Well, if you are lucky, I might share some pics of me in a kilt after Tuesday.
Getting married wearing mine that day.
.-= Henry´s last blog ..If I had to, I could go without my cell phone for a month. =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:57 am
Looks like a fun time. I love seeing men in Kilts. What a hoot to see the GI Joe one. The tattoo man looks like a Viking, just need the helmet,lol.
.-= AuntieE´s last blog ..My Favorite Song Weekend-It’s A Child’s Song? =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Looks like a hoot. I’ll be skipping the haggis though!
September 27th, 2009 at 7:46 am
redkathy — A steroid version of Axy Rose perhaps? He scared me a little.
unfinishedrambler — I think you would do a kilt justice. Go with red and blues, though. I thought those were the most stylish. Think of it as blog material. Go for it!
Curtis — That must be where guys buy them. I have never run into a kilt store. Ever. I kept asking my husband, “where to they get them?” So intriguing.
Babs Beetle — I think so too. At first it looks strange, but then you start admiring them and sorting out the best looks among the crowd. I was wondering if you’ve ever had haggis and liked it. And now I know.
ReformingGeek — It was a lot of fun, especially watching the giant guys toss heavy stuff around. BTW, they grunt way louder than tennis players when they serve. For some reason, I expected to see haggis served in a tube, like sausage. I think that’s only how it’s cooked, though.
Jen — Agreed. You go from staring at them for being men in skirts, to admiring the ones who look really sharp in them. It’s a weird phenomenon. I’ve heard of Lutefisk. I can’t remember what it is, and I’m not looking it up because it scared me before.
Jackie — Agreed. Although the GI Joe guy didn’t appeal to me. He actually just looked like a guy in a skirt.
Jeff — Yep. I don’t know any bloggers like that. And I certainly don’t know any who would post a video of someone eating something like…. oh I don’t know .. head cheese?
Lidian — Oh, yes! He does look like Garth. A very burly Garth. Who could kill you if you so much as looked at him wrong.
Christy — Well, you were brave to try it. It’s possible if I didn’t know what was in it, I might try it out of curiosity. But sheep’s organs really aren’t my thing and I don’t even know if I’d eat it if you paid me.
MA Fat Woman — No, but if you look closely at the video, you can get a look-see of that one guy. Actually, he looks like he’s got a lot of coverage under there. Probably a good thing.
Will — Oh, the band members looked so royal in their finery. You’d look good. I think that’s the consensus here. Don’t be afraid.
Daisy the Curly Cat — You might! Do you like sheep things? And yes! Harley would look amazing in a kilt? Is there any way you can find one in his size?
Henry — Are you serious? Oh, please do share! Come back and leave a link in the comments. Or at least email me (kathyblog07 at gmail dot com). Congratulations to the happy couple!
AuntieE — Oh, he does look like a Viking. I can totally see that. He’s got the body, too.
Data Entry Services — It was a good day. The festival carries over to today, but it’s raining, so we’ll just watch it on TV. They’re doing the caber toss (picture big telephone poles being thrown through the air). That I would have liked to see in person.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:44 am
My husband is of Irish/Scottish descent (complete with the freckles and red beard!), and I begged him to wear a kilt for our wedding. He refused. Thanks for these pictures, there is definitely something sexy about a man with the guts to wear one!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Fashion =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:12 am
I’m thinking that there should be a rule regarding kilts–they have to be plaid. Otherwise they are just man-skirts. The last dude’s looks like a skirt and the hair isn’t helping him much. Now we know why he has all those tattoos!
.-= Lin´s last blog ..Drum Major, Is your Band Ready? =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:30 am
The last dude..needs to reconsider his choice of outfits..
September 27th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Kilts are beautiful, interesting, fun, manly….skirts on men, not so cool really! Haggis? Double Eeeuuuwww! It doesn’t even look appealing, why would someone be enticed to try it? Just give me some steak on a stick!
.-= Buggys´s last blog ..Pimps or Ponzi’s =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:50 am
The guy in the black kilts with the long hair and tattoos looked kinda hot, in a scary, I don’t wanna get too close kind of way. LOL Anyway, I was certainly glad to see that the guy throwing the disc-y thing wasn’t wearing a traditional kilt (nothing underneath) considering how his kilt twirled in the wind. Yikes!!!
.-= Preston´s last blog ..Reynolds Wrap Corporation – How Could Ye? =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Oh that looks like so much fun. Yes, the haggis or whatever you called it does look like cat food, but what does it taste like? Before I read the last line, I thought that was a woman in the last picture. Maybe I should put my glasses on…lol
.-= ann´s last blog ..Can you stand another one? =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I’m hiding from Jeff because I’m the blogger that not only said what was in the haggis, I drew smiley faces on mine with ketchup. It wasn’t all that bad after I decided to pretend it was black pudding.
It looks like you had a great time!
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..Friday Photo Fun =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
The publicist doesn’t do haggis but she does do scrapple.
Hmmmm, a bottom of the barrel pig vs. sheep food conundrum, eh?
.-= Pricilla´s last blog ..When Matthew met Stinky =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Ooh, I love to see a fellow in a kilt! There’s just something very manly and sexy about it…particularly if the fellow in question is Gerard Butler. Please pardon me for a moment while I swoon just thinking about it.
.-= absepa´s last blog ..A Culture of Lies =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Haggis is just wrong in so many ways. But otherwise, it looks like a great time!
.-= CatLadyLarew´s last blog ..Quirky’s Head is Full of Brainz! =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I love bagpipe music!!!!
.-= grannyann´s last blog ..You’ve Got To Be Kidding!!! =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Heather — Oh, you would have had the most unique wedding photos! I’m sorry he didn’t oblige you. Yes, tell him how sexy he would have looked.
Lin — You’re right. You can only really get away with it if the kilt is identifiable as one. That last guy? OMG. Wrong on so many levels.
MegaMan the Madman — Totally. Although if it was attention he was looking for, attention he got.
Buggys — They are beautiful, aren’t they? I’m all about normal, average food too. Sheep innards, no? Big ‘ol slab ‘o meat? When do we eat?
Preston — Yes, hot and scary. Kind of a hard mix to pull off. I’m guessing the athletes go as far as to wear protective gear, shall we say, under there.
ann — I don’t know what it tastes like and I don’t wanna know. Not even curious. Yeah, that last picture. If not for the muscles and the tats, could be a woman with really great hair.
Tracy — Yes, but did you eat it and like it?
Pricilla — I’ve never had scrapple either. My mother loves it. But she’ll eat anything that won’t bite her back.
absepa — Oh, yes. Gerard is very yummy. Wonder if we can scare up any pictures of him in a kilt?
CatLadyLarew — Certainly is. The guy whose picture I took seemed to enjoy it, except for all the time it took for people around him to pepper him with questions. He unfortunately positioned himself in the middle of a lot of curious people.
grannyann — I hate to admit this, but I can’t stand it. I think it stems from having worked with a fellow who used to play it at his desk at work. Without all the ceremony, bagpipe music is painful to me.
September 27th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
It wasn’t windy that day, was it? THAT would be a sight to see! I’m glad there are times when men get a chance to see how the other half dresses…now, if we could just get ‘em to suffer in heels and hose, I’d be happy.
.-= kathryn´s last blog ..Time Waits =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
My Scottish ancestors emigrated to America for the sole purpose of religious freedom, and never having to eat haggis again. In that order.
Looks like you had your eyes full for the festival. Perchance, was anyone there dressed like Mel Gibson?
September 27th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Haggis? Looks like a plate of dirt. Ick.
.-= Knucklehead´s last blog ..Stolen Flowers for Mommy =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I’ve always wanted to go to this. Next year can we go together? I’d love it!
And um…..those guys. Um….all scary. Just sayin’. Your taste isn’t so good.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Just curious – were any of those guys single? Because you can have them call me. They CANNOT be worse than what I have been dating… Just kidding!!
.-= Kim ´s last blog ..News – Because I Said So =-.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
You know how old guys start getting skinny legs?
Yeah, well my skirt-wearing days are over!
: (
sniff
.-= Ferd´s last blog ..Sunday Scenery =-.
September 28th, 2009 at 6:30 am
My husband’s family is Scottish. Not a nationality of many culinary delights, although they do make a mean shortbread cookie. Around here they host a “Burns Dinner” (in honor of Robert “Robbie” Burns the poet). It’s a formal dinner, and at the beginning they have this whole ceremony where they bring in the haggis, say a few words over it, then with great flourish they stab it with a big sword. They divide up the haggis and put a plate of it on each table. Of course no one eats it. We are all just satisfied to sit with the haggis. We don’t need to prove anything by actually eating it.
.-= Carole´s last blog ..Anyone Have a Good Potluck-Type Recipe? =-.
September 28th, 2009 at 7:53 am
I LOVE the GI Joe kilt! That’s the funniest thing I’ve seen today! Thanks for the laugh! LOL!
September 28th, 2009 at 8:30 am
I’m telling you, that’s no “guy” in that last photo. It’s Madonna! I don’t know what she’s doing at Celtic Fest — maybe looking for a nice little Scottish baby to buy.
.-= JD at I Do Things´s last blog ..I Do Nude so you don’t have to =-.
September 28th, 2009 at 8:39 am
I’m still too afraid to look up “Haggis”…it doesn’t look like it’s for the faint at heart….
.-= Roschelle´s last blog ..Has Your Blog Readership Increased? =-.
September 28th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Who knew kilts came in so many different, um, versatile styles!
Did you toss a few tabers while you were there, Kathy?
And what did you have to eat since, clearly it was not of the haggis variety?
.-= Jenn Thorson´s last blog ..Haiku for My Japanese Spammer =-.
September 28th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
What…no caber tossing?
I think that isn’t so much a kilt as an official men’s skirt. I think that in punk rock fashion, skirts leather skirts have been acceptable for quite some time.
.-= Chris@TheSnackHound´s last blog ..Fudgie the Whale =-.
September 28th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
No haggis for me! iCK! I like a man in a kilt though- wanted to buy one for the husband but they are pricey for something he would wear probably once or less.
.-= Michelle Gartner´s last blog ..The Transformers: The Movie – Orson Welles Last Role =-.
September 28th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
The ‘sconnie version of this is a cow-chip tossing contest. “Chip” means dung, btw. And it’s not in kilts.
.-= Ann’s Rants´s last blog ..Dear Man At The Urinal in Target: =-.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Wow! Those pictures are just awesome. To tell you the truth I’m not very familiar with the Celtic culture but I am a huge fan of Celtic Music. It’s just one of the most fantastic and inspiring kids of music that exists.
I have a lot of cds and listen to them always.
I have to say – that last picture is kind of funny – hee he
All the best,
Eren Mckay
.-= Eren Mckay´s last blog ..I look to you Whitney Houston on Oprah being interviewed =-.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:45 am
Did you get a taste of the haggis? I should check out my local Celtic games to check out the kilts. Your comment about the G.I. Joe kilt made me laugh!
.-= AVCr8teur´s last blog ..The Three Horsemen =-.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:34 am
Wow, I love that man on G.I. Joe kilt ehehehe! I love to sport on one of those skirts…
.-= elmot´s last blog ..Noynoy Aquino, People Power III and Coffee =-.
September 29th, 2009 at 4:35 am
kathryn — Somehow I think men wouldn’t much care if their kilts flipped up in the wind. Heels and hose? You’d have to pay a man to do that even once.
Crabby Blogging Lady — Ha! And I believe you. No, unfortunately the festival was Gibsonless. Shame, isn’t it?
Knucklehead — And probably tastes like it too. I’d like to see someone eat haggis without seasoning. I’m guessing it’s the seasoning that makes it remotely palatable.
Lisa — Hell, yes! It’s a relatively small festival, but you won’t get a chance to see a guy in a skirt hurl a pole 50 ft in the air anywhere else.
Kim — And maybe you can share fashion tips?
Ferd — I took a picture of an old guy in a kilt. It wasn’t pretty. I didn’t share it with anyone because I can barely stand to look at it myself.
Carole — Hilarious! I can just see someone walking seat to seat .. “Are you finished with your haggis?” “Yes, I never started.”
Jay — That one was the most unique of them all, I thought. Although the least kilty-looking.
JD at I Do Things — Har! Madonna gets scarier looking and scarier looking. I think one day with her trainer would kill me. Have you seen her arms lately?
Roschelle — Don’t. And don’t read any of the comments here. The secret’s out.
Jenn Thorson — It blows my mind that those guys can even pick the cabers up. Then they run with them. They they throw them. Who thunk up that game anyway? I ate a nice big slice of spanikopita. A local Greek church also had food stands set up. I finished it off with a slice of baklava.
Chris at TheSnackHound — My caber would have to be the size of a rolling pin, and even then I’d screw it up. I had no idea punkers would walk around wearing leather skirts. It seems so wrong. It is so wrong.
Michelle Gartner — Would your husband actually wear one? Kudos to him!
Ann’s Rants — That I’d love to see some day. I’ve only ever seen it done on TV, which is far less mesmerizing without the accompanying smell. Or don’t they smell? Inquiring minds want to know.
Eren Mckay — My husband and I loved listening to the bands who played at the opening of the festival. It’s the sort of music that puts you in another time and place. Very beautiful. We wanted them to play longer. It only lasted about 30 minutes.
AVCr8teur — I did not. I wouldn’t even do it on a dare. Or for money. If you can get yourself to a celtic fest of any kind, you won’t be disappointed. Even if you don’t eat the food, there’s tons to look at and enjoy.
elmot — He was certainly the most unique of the bunch. I really wonder where he got that thing.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:55 am
We tried to picture our Dad in a kilt….we’re laffin an laffin now!!
Mom said EWWWWWW about the Haggis!
Sniffie and the Florida Furkids
.-= Sniffie and the Florida Furkids´s last blog ..Remembering a friend – a Birthday at the Bridge =-.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Looks like a wonderful place to spend an afternoon!
.-= Tina´s last blog ..Getting it Together =-.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Sounds like a blast – especially the people watching!
September 29th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Love the post, it has reminded me that with winter on the way its time to buy some haggis, best served with “neeps and tatties” from the garden. yum!
September 29th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I don’t care about kilts one way or the other. Of course, if they’re man enough to wear them and not get their ass kicked I want their phone number. I’m single, I wear aprons, and I’m attractive. Really.
The one and only period in my life I’ve ever ate haggis, I was pregnant. (So pregnant, actually, I worked a ren faire that year and had to go home in the middle of the last day to GIVE BIRTH.) I ate it like it was going out of style, and the lovely Scotsman that sold it used to pile it on me for free. It tasted good, but so did Jack in the Box egg rolls dipped in chocolate syrup, and I’m not about to repeat either of those culinary experiences.
.-= SewDucky´s last blog ..Wow. =-.
September 29th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I’ve been to the games before. My favorite part of it was that they had a little spot set up for an arm wrestling competition. I don’t know if they had it when you were there.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
There is something about a brawny guy in a plaid skirt that is sexy. There I said it!
.-= carol at A Second Cup´s last blog ..Aging and Whining: Meetings =-.
September 30th, 2009 at 4:34 am
Sniffie and the Florida Furkids — There’s nothing worse than getting mocked by cats. There really isn’t.
Tina — It was, and the weather held up the day we were there. Not so much the next day.
Leigh — Got that right. I’m disappointed in my camera. The batteries run out so fast, I couldn’t keep it ready for all the interesting people who walked by. Some pictures I missed, like the girl in the goth kilt. She had scary fishnet stockings on with it.
DC25 — Neeps and tatties sounds a little dirty. I had to look it up. Whew! It’s only yellow turnips and potatoes!
SewDucky — Yeah, you already know the guy is uber-confident and proud of himself if you find him walking around in public wearing a skirt. I think you could win a contest for most disgusting things eaten while pregnant. I tip my hat to you!
Manhattan — No, I don’t think they had that, but I would have liked to see it since the only other place you’re gonna find something like that is a seedy bar I think.
carol at A Second Cup — And I agree! (So do a lot of other women here, so no worries).
September 30th, 2009 at 8:02 am
You never fail to crack me up.
Is Haggis worse than Shepherd’s Pie? It doesn’t look worse. SP looks like black, fetid goo from the underside of a long-dead cat.
I want to go to this festival! That looks like great fun.
.-= Wendy´s last blog ..What Are You Getting Paid For? =-.
October 1st, 2009 at 2:08 am
Actually, I think pregnant snacks are about out. I don’t like chocolate, and I used to eat those ginormous hearts they have at Valentine’s day. Some old guy in line thought it was hilarious I was buying the 6 left in the store the day after (they were like 6 bucks, instead of 70), he actually paid for them. I had them ate in like, oh, 2 weeks.
But then, I only gained 12 lbs my whole pregnancy, and came out of the hospital 10 lbs lighter then before I even got pregnant.
.-= SewDucky´s last blog ..Wow. =-.
October 1st, 2009 at 11:24 am
The pictures are super funny…i cant help it.^^
.-= Bryan V.´s last blog ..PINOY BEEF BRISKET =-.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:49 am
The last photo is awesome!
And a little joke:
-Is something worn under the kilt?
-No, madam, everything is in perfect working condition.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Oh how fun! I have always wanted to attend one of these! I don’t think I’d be brave enough to try the haggis, though.
.-= CrAzY Working Mom´s last blog ..Camera Critters – Emily’s New Friends =-.
October 4th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Okay, as soon as I get the disc from the Photographers I’ll put a few up and send you a like for it.
.-= Henry Kessler´s last blog ..Eating Out in Breckenridge Colorado =-.
October 7th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I found out that Yes, it’s totally OK to take a picture of another man’s haggis. In front of your husband no less. I got the idea to blog about it when attending our Irish Festival AFTER we ate our haggis. So yeah, I had to use the pick up line,”Hey can I take a picture of your haggis?” to a guy at the haggis stand. No lie.
.-= Condo Blues´s last blog ..Porch Chair Revamp Take 2 =-.
October 10th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Would love to wear one of those Kilts and ask an Irish woman out using the pick up line, “Sorry, I couldn’t find you in time and they named it “Haggis”…It was my fault, the coffee is on me”.
Awesome snaps…..specially the last one.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Anyone know of any pick up lines that would work at an event like this? How’s bout – dress up like this often. Hrm, something not lame like that would be good.
December 4th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I had fun reading this post. That guy wearing a skirt, you should not mess with him! haha!
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Buying A Special Wedding Gift =-.
March 31st, 2010 at 1:04 am
Gotta love the kilts! You need some real confidence to pull off something like that!
.-= Pick Up Artist´s last blog ..Engine of Survival =-.