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Celtic Radio Community > Festival & Games > Radford Highlander Festival

Posted by: WizardofOwls 19-Sep-2004, 01:50 PM

Hi there!

I was just wondering if anyone beside myself is planning to attend the Radford Highlander Festival in Radford, VA on Oct 9?? I hope so 'cause I sure would like to meet some of you guys! 3ravens? maggiemahone? CarolinaScotsman?

Let me know so that we can arrange to meet somewhere! And so that someone can bring a camera and get some pictures for CR!

Don't forget that Enter the Happis will be there performing twice that day! If anyone wants more info let me know and I'll post a link!

I can't wait, can you tell???!!!

Posted by: WizardofOwls 19-Sep-2004, 01:52 PM

Ooops! Sorry! <blushes> That should have been Enter the Haggis, of course!

Posted by: Fearchara 21-Sep-2004, 10:07 AM

I wish I could be there. I used to live in Abingdon where they have a Highlands Festival for 2 weeks every summer...missed that one, too.

Posted by: WizardofOwls 25-Sep-2004, 07:22 PM

Hey Fearchara! I'm so sorry that you won't be able to make it to Radford, since its a lot of fun!

By the way, I've heard of the festival down in Abingdon, but I had heard that there was very little that was "Highlander" about it other than the name. I've never gone for this reason! Can you tell me more about it? What sort of events do they have?

Posted by: Fearchara 10-Oct-2004, 01:22 PM

You heard right about the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon not being very "Highlander." They do not have any games, but they do have music! One weekend is always the Celtic Music weekend, and I always went for that.

There was a lot of different music and plenty of bagpipes. One time there was a Scottish storyteller...no one tells a story like a Scotsman

The Barter Theatre has several plays on during the festival, so it was always a good opportunity for me to see two or three plays. An author like Lee Smith is usually at the festival as well, if you like Appalachian Literature. And, of course, the food and many good vendors. I have bought some nice paintings during the festival, and I would spend a lot of time going thru the photography exhibit. I also spent a lot of time at the antiques tent but it was too expensive. The antique shops in the town have much better prices.

I bet you had a lot of fun yesterday...wish I could have been there.

Posted by: TheCarolinaScotsman 11-Oct-2004, 10:56 PM

Wizard, I'm sorry I just now saw this post. Obviously I didn't make it. This was supposed to be my weekend off, but one of the other guys took vacation and I had to work anyway.

Hope you had a good time.

Tell us all about it.

Posted by: WizardofOwls 27-Nov-2004, 06:44 PM

Hi everybody!

I never got a chance to tell everyone how the Radford Highlander Festival was!

Well, in my opinion, it was WONDERFUL! I have never been to any other festival, so I don't know how it compares to others, but I always have a blast! There was a parade before the festival began with local high school band, fraternity and sorority floats, and this year we had four pipe and drum bands! I thought I was in heaven!

After the parade, I went up to scope out the vendors, looking for goodies to bring home. I found a beautiful antique-looking brass Celtic cross necklace on a black cord, bought a cheap sgian dubh, a nice navy blue baseball cap with "Scotland" in yellow on the front and a red rampant lion, and I got a copy of one of our local band's CD. The band was called Beggars' Circus and I really enjoyed hearing them! Enter the Haggis was there as well, but I didn't get to stay to hear them.

There were Highland-style games going on and lots of clan tents (though none for my clan, McKay, alas!).

Unfortunately I didn't get to see anyone from Highlander Radio there!

3Ravens was going to meet me there, but unfortunatley my computer went down before we could make arrangements to meet, and since she was driving from Richmond, whcih is a LONG way away, she didn't come. Maybe next year my friend! I sure hope so!

Well, I guess I'll go for now. Until next year! (I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

)

Posted by: A Shrule Egan 28-Nov-2004, 08:28 PM

Allen, save your money and some vacation time and come to Bethlehem next September. If you get that worked up from that show, try 320,000 people and some of the best Celtic bands touring the country.

If you come, should we have the paramedics follow you around with the jumper cables, just in case you get to excited and you heart needs a start???

When do we see the pic of you with this baseball cap??

Posted by: WizardofOwls 28-Nov-2004, 10:25 PM

QUOTE (A Shrule Egan @ 28-Nov-2004, 10:28 PM)

When do we see the pic of you with this baseball cap??

The paramedics probably wouldn't be a bad idea!

And you'll have to wait til after Chrsitmas to see the pics... when I get my new camera!

Posted by: WizardofOwls 28-Nov-2004, 10:27 PM

Oh, by the way, how far is Bethlehem from Pittsburgh? My wife has an aunt who lives there. Maybe we could stay with her if it isn't too far away!

Posted by: A Shrule Egan 29-Nov-2004, 06:48 PM

Bethlehem is 15 minutes from the New Jersey border and Pittsburgh........well.....that's near Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh is about 5 hours away. Almost on the other end of the state.

Posted by: WizardofOwls 30-Nov-2004, 08:57 PM

QUOTE (A Shrule Egan @ 29-Nov-2004, 08:48 PM)

Bethlehem is 15 minutes from the New Jersey border and Pittsburgh........well.....that's near Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh is about 5 hours away. Almost on the other end of the state.

Ohhh.... This not good...

On the bright side, that's STILL closer than the drive from Virginia!

Posted by: A Shrule Egan 01-Dec-2004, 06:43 PM

Allan, here's the plan, follow me here:

1. Start saving a few dollars a week for a long weekend in Bethlehem in September.

2. Save a vacation day so you can take Friday off of the fest. Tell the boss, you WILL have that day off.

3. Make reservations in July at the Bethlehem Hampton Inn (ask for a room between 127 and 139).

4. Bring a bathing suit and an appetite. The pool is heated and the breakfast is free.

5. Go to the fest and have a grand time.

6. This is the most important one. Remember to tell ASE what a brilliant and thoughtful guy he is, for setting you straight on why you need to come to Bethlehem.

If you follow those 6 rules, you can guarantee a good time for you and your family.

Posted by: Annabelle 06-Dec-2004, 08:09 PM

ASE is a brillant guy?

Don't make me laugh!!!

Posted by: Annabelle 06-Dec-2004, 09:01 PM

now he's had his med's!

Please help me stop rolling and laughing here!

Brillant? Really? ha ha

nope can't stop laughing

Posted by: A Shrule Egan 06-Dec-2004, 09:55 PM

QUOTE (Annabelle @ 06-Dec-2004, 10:01 PM)

now he's had his med's!

Please help me stop rolling and laughing here!

Brillant? Really? ha ha

nope can't stop laughing

Posted by: 3Ravens 06-Dec-2004, 09:56 PM

That's probably the best response, Mike!

Posted by: WizardofOwls 04-Jan-2005, 10:15 AM

Well, anyway, lets hope that we can get several of us together and make it to Radford THIS year! I think it will be LOTS of fun!

Posted by: 3Ravens 05-Jan-2005, 08:57 PM

I'll be there if others are! *Sends calming thoughts to Wizard's computer.*

Posted by: WizardofOwls 05-Jan-2005, 09:10 PM

Well, I will definitley be there! I've been every there year for the past 4 years and wouldn't dream of breaking the tradition now! Anyway, if we start pestering them now, we might be albe to get maggiemahone1 (she's up in WVa), TheCarolinaScotsman (in SC, of course) and maybe a few others! Freekenny told me once that she comes to Wytheville, VA where I live,s o she might go the extra few miles! And Aaediwen is jsut down in KY! The possibilites are endless!

And thanks for the calming thoughts! :whew!: I get all excited when I talk about the Festival!