Franklin's "Taste of Scotland" Festival

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Today was Franklin's 13th annual Taste of Scotland Festival. This is our annual "small town Main street festival with a Scottish flavor" that is organized chiefly by the Friends of the Scottish Tartans Museum. It's always a fun time, and today was no exception.

The weather was fairly hot, but otherwise great. The crowds all looked like they were having a grand time. We were jammed-slammed busy in the museum all day long (the fact we had our AC kicked on high gear may have accounted for part of that!). We had free museum admission, guided tours, spinning and weaving demonstrations, and entertainment throughout the day.

There were other stage areas set up downtown where entertainment was going on. We had crafters and vendors, a small parade, and the shops all along Main Street decorated their windows in a Scottish fashion.

I regret we were too busy all day for me to go around taking many photos, so I only have a few to post. Maybe other X Markers who were there (I saw a few) could post pics if they have them.

To begin with, this is me at the beginning of the day. I asked my wife to snap a picture of me on the way out of the house.

I was being honored at this festival for my years of dedicated service to the Scottish Tartans Museum (I started the same year as the first Taste of Scotland festival, so this is my thirteenth year with the museum). So I wanted to be dressed appropriately as I would be in the parade and up on stage to get my award. I was very honored.

But you can bet the jacket, tie and bonnet came off after the opening ceremonies and my sleeves were rolled up fast! As I said, it was a warm one!

My wife and kids came and enjoyed the festivities for a few hours. They had lots for small children to do and enjoy. I regret I didn't get a chance to take pics of all my kids in their kilts, but they must have been photographed at least once every two minutes by someone (did I mention how cute they were?) so hopefully someone will think to send me a pic.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take this photo of two great sporran makers who happened to converge today in our museum gift shop:

On the left is Turpin Ballard, of Thorfinn Custom Sporrans. To the right is Lamar Adron Britt of Ferguson Britt Sporrans. I'm sure they were exchanging trade secrets and discussing the finer points of cordwaining.

Here's another shot of Lamar, discussing sporrans with X Mark's own Wompet, who joined us for a good part of the day.


No, Wompet didn't go home with a new Ferguson Britt sporran, but he did leave the shop with several new books and a new Harris Tweed box pleated kilt. Maybe he'll post some pictures of himself in his new acquisition?

Even though I was cloistered in the museum most of the day, I did get a chance to walk out a bit. Here's our local yarn shop, with their window display showcasing several styles of hand knit kilt hose.

I believe earlier in the week they had workshops on tartan weaving and kilt hose knitting.

Our museum stays pretty crowded with people during the day at Taste of Scotland so we are not generally able to take time to look up names and tartans and do research for people like we normally like to do. So we take some of our reference books and a set of swatches and set up a special table out in front of the museum entrance just for looking up tartan information.


Sadly, those were about all the picures I managed to take. If anyone else has any to add, please do!

[KFCarter]

Thanks for posting these pics.

Congratulations on 13 years with the Museum and on the well-deserved honor, sir! The Museum, the research and writings and those beautiful box pleat kilts.... I'd say all of us who care about the history, the wearing and the care and "feeding" of kilts owe you a debt of gratitude!

Slainte

[McMurdo]

Matt
Great photos, it brings back fond memories of my trip to Franklin earlier this year. Hopefully we can visit next year for the Taste of Scotland. Congratulations on the award. You all looked wonderful, I hope it was a good time and I'm glad to hear the museum was busy all day.

[Santa Wally]

I was talking with my wife this afternoon about making a trip down to see the museum sometime. Unfortunately I didn't know about the Taste of Scotland Festival or we'd have been there. I didn't see anything posted about it on X Marks. We went down to Blairsville 2 weeks ago after learning about it on X Marks and met Turpin and Wompet there. Sorry we missed seeing them again, meeting Matt and visiting the museum for the first time. We are in Pigeon Forge for the summer.

[Highlander31]

Congratulations on the award, and marking your thirteenth year of service to the museum. It looks and sounds like it was a great day.

[David Dubh]

Thanks for posting the pics. Congrats on the award. Would love to see pictures of the kilted kids

[GMan]

Well done!

[svc40bt]

Very sharp outfit, Matt, as always. Is that one of the jackets you sell? I really like that color, and the three to button front.

[Tattoo Bradley]

Congrats on 13 years of service! A job well done.


What tartan is Turpin wearing there?

[sirdaniel1975]

As soon as I get back home to Fl, I'll upload my photos from the "13th annual Taste of Scotland." I'm visiting my folks and they don't have a card reader for my memory card.... Probably this Wednesday!

I will say it was rather hot for Franklin, the heat index was around 110 degrees today. All in all, it was a good day and a lot of fun. The event grows a little bit each year. Matt was the Honored Guest and was given a plaque of appreciation. I do have some nice shots of that.