Gold Cup and Saucer Parade

**cloves** · 18th August 07, 06:29 PM

In my little city of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, we have an annual street parade to celebrate Old Home Week.
Old Home Week is basically a way to pay homage to the homesteading heritage of the Island. There is a traveling carnical in town, an agricultural exhibition, 4H events and then at the end of the week the parade and the Gold Cup and Saucer harness race.
I don't really follow horse racing much, but I do know that of all of the harness racing events in Canada, this one has the largest purse, so it's a big deal for such a small rural place.
Anywho, back to the parade.....so like I was saying, it's a big deal here. So much so that everything shuts down for the hour or so it takes for the parade to pass by. The mall I work in being no exception.
I won't bore you with typical parade type pics, but I thought you all might want to take a look at the pipebands that marched by.

ok...the first band was from Belfast
they are from a place even more rural than Charlottetown. Despite it's small size, Belfast has being holding a small highland games in it's village for quite some time. This year the celebrated the 200th anniversary of Scottish settlers to the area. You can read a bit about it here

the next pipeband to march by, fresh from their 4th place (grade3) win in Scotland, was the band from the College of Piping in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. I really like the look of their uniform. ALL black, except the millennium tartan.

last, but certainly not least was an RCMP band from Halifax, Nova Scotia. To say they were awesome would be an understatement. So crisp, and so sharp. When they paraded by, it made my ears tear up.

**cloves** · 18th August 07, 06:32 PM

RCMP pics wouldn't be complete without showing you pics of the officers in their traditional red serge uniforms as well. And also the members of the Musical Ride

**auld argonian** · 18th August 07, 06:37 PM

Looks like a fantastic time!

I'm going to try to resist making any comments about that really cute woman in the front row of...oh, hell...that's just THE cutest Mountie that I've ever seen!

That's it...I'm defecting to Canada!

Seriously, that RCMP tartan is really nice and you say that the band was just right on...really super!

Best

AA

**Moosedog** · 18th August 07, 07:14 PM

Wow, thanks for the wonderful photos! I have been to several parades this year but have managed to see NO pipe bands. Also it was great to see the RCMP kilts-I have some of that tartan and have been wondering how to make it up.

Moosedog

**pdcorlis** · 18th August 07, 07:14 PM

How fun is that? Great photos so thanks for posting!

**The F-H.C.A.G.** · 18th August 07, 07:35 PM

Beautiful photos. I love watching parades, especially if they involve such well matched horses. And yes, she's a cute Mountie!

Be well,

**cloves** · 18th August 07, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by The F-H.C.A.G.

. And yes, she's a cute Mountie!

why Star...you shock me! *gasp*

**Peter C.** · 18th August 07, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by The F-H.C.A.G.

Beautiful photos. I love watching parades, especially if they involve such well matched horses. And yes, she's a cute Mountie!

Be well,

Great photos, and they are lovely horses, big blacks, very similar to the horses of the Life Guards in the Household Cavalry.

And we all seem to agree about the woman in the front row.

Peter