Anyone else notice this about the Games lately?

[Bob C]

I'm going to two games/festivals this year instead of the 4-5 that I'd like to. Travel is just too damned expensive.

[Panache]

We have at least 10 different games / celtic festivals in / or a reasonable from the Bay Area. I can understand parring down the number of Games to the ones that are really big or have some special feature to them.

The Loch Lomond Games are one of the smallest but have a great setting and a nice fun atmosphere.

The Pleasanton Games are one of the world's largest and a must see

I feel I have to support the Campbell Highland Games (in spite of the terrific heat and few vendors) being that they are about 5 miles from my house.

As for the others...

Sometimes you have to choose.

Cheers

Jamie

[JRB]

Another factor I've noticed this year has been the weather. Last spring and summer, all the games I attended enjoyed beautiful, dry, sunny weather. So far this year the games I've attended have been either freezing with biting winds and drizzly rain or ungodly hot and humid with periods of downpours and thunder storms. I know the economy has a lot to do with attendence (being out of work for the past 3 months has really cut down on my spending) but I definitely have heard folks mentioning how much crappy weather affects the success of a highland festival.

[MACKAY]

I have been attending various “Highland Games” since I was a wee lad. I have noticed that the overall numbers of ‘pure’ Scottish Games are dwindling, and I am seeing more and more “Festival” type settings.

These festivals usually have a mix of themes from pirates, to renaissance, to Celtic type vendors and events. It seems that many of the smaller games have just folded up, or combined into one of the bigger festivals. Several of the local tri-state festivals have “Scottish Days”, or such, but I do miss the ‘big’ games that used to be in the area.

[mcvarmit]

attended the elizabeth celtic festival in colorado this last weekend. i live in new mexico, so it was about a 6 hr. drive from where i live.was just looking at my on line visa statement cost me about $400 bucks, vendor prices were a tad bit outta line, no gifts for the wife this time. the festival was also a tad bit disorganized, web site was a mess, and i drove right past the place for a few miles, before i turned around, almost a complete lack of signs. on the plus side i did enjoy myself. will probably attend next year?

semper fi

slick

[RamsayClanCommish]

I would agree with all of the posts made.

Now how would you improve on these problems or what would you like to see happen at games and events that doesnt? Any pet peeves or suggestions?

[vmac3205]

As a clan commissioner, we get in for the price of the clan tent, but Portland Games went up to $20 entrance fee. For a family of four, add some food, drink and a few trinkets, and that's pushing the price to unmanagable. We are attending three of the smaller ones this month, so it will be interesting to compare attendance. A few of the comments I've heard is .... changing venues too often, too many non-games type vendors (siding sales, etc) poor organization, and of course the universal price of gas.

[Nighthawk]

The Elizabeth Celtic Festival had a really poor turnout. I blame that on the cost of travel. Gas prices are going to kill it. If turnout doesn't improve, the festival won't last two more years, and it's a fun festival too, which is sad. We'll see how this weekends Fort Collins Irish Festival turns out. Here's hoping!

attended the elizabeth celtic festival in colorado this last weekend. i live in new mexico, so it was about a 6 hr. drive from where i live.was just looking at my on line visa statement cost me about $400 bucks, vendor prices were a tad bit outta line, no gifts for the wife this time. the festival was also a tad bit disorganized, web site was a mess, and i drove right past the place for a few miles, before i turned around, almost a complete lack of signs. on the plus side i did enjoy myself. will probably attend next year?

semper fi

slick

Yes, those were also very problematic. A lot of people complained that they had to pay for parking, on top of paying admission, which I see as a valid complaint. I've never had to pay for parking for a festival with admission charges! And yeah, vendor prices were a touch high- what few vendors there were! I couldn't even find an interesting kilt pin!! People were actually trying to buy my sgain dubh right out of my boot!

[Colin]

I've noticed the opposite locally. We seem to have record breaking attendance each year and more and more people seem to be wearing kilts. Despite more and more things to divide their attention, the games have grown, but I feel like the quality of the local games has gone down a bit in the last 2 years or so.

There are more casual kilt companies with booths (usually busy), but many of the other booths are now rubbish with little to nothing to do with Scotland or the Games. This year we had a booth run by a South East Asian family selling slippers, knock off baseball caps, and silk (not tartan). I would be surprised if they made back the entrance fee in sales.

[Macman]

Our local games has grown in duration, attendance and quantity over the last four or five years. It keeps getting better and better. I attribute it to management by the games committee; they are doing a really good job of getting the news out about the games beforehand.