Anyone else notice this about the Games lately?

[vmac3205]

Macman,

Did you get to the Bellingham games? How was it?

[Macman]

Macman,

Did you get to the Bellingham games? How was it?

No, I didn't. I haven't been to the Bellingham games since my daughter danced. I remember it being one of the nicest games I'd ever been to.

[vmac3205]

No, I didn't. I haven't been to the Bellingham games since my daughter danced. I remember it being one of the nicest games I'd ever been to.

And now it is back in Hovander Park, which is the original spot and I guess it is just delightful. Perhaps some year we'll get there.

[skruse]

Reduced attendance is a global phenomena. There is too much going on in too many places. Attendance is down at professional conferences and meetings, even the best. People can read a journal, participate on line, but getting to a conference is another matter. The economy just compounds what is already going on.

[Caddy One]

Yes, you are not imagining it! One reason is that a few have been carrying the entire burden. One of my good friends and former student is clan commissioner for his clan in NC. One year his wife was seriously ill, so he announced that he could not make it to the more distant games. . . . there was no tent for his clan that year where he did not attend! The second oldest game in the state (NC) the Flora Macdonald games in Red Springs, NC has canceled this year (see link)http://www.capefearscots.com/. We here at Cape Fear Valley Scottish Clans hope to resurrect it, but that is still somewhat up in the air.

Just a note..........Heard that Scotland County (Laurinburg) might pick the games up.....you proabably heard the same................Not a bad idea....

[Jimmy Carbomb]

All I can see is this:

Four weeks ago, Grandfather Mountain sold-out its allotment for concert tickets on the "big night", and we had our best merchandise sales ever over the weekend. Money can't be hurting that bad.

Three weeks ago, The Great American Irish Festival in Utica sold-out for the festival grounds, and the Saranac Irish Red Ale sold out in 24 hours. This was one of the best events that I've ever been a part of!

Last week, The Detroit Highland Games doubled their all-time best attendance. These games were VERY well organized and included everything that you could imagine in Scottish culture. I'm not shocked that they're in their 159th year! They know how to make it interesting, and accomodating for patrons. Apparently, the money's no problem up there either since merchandise sales were brisk and the attendees were from ALL OVER the place.

From MY personal perspective on my "perched" vantage point, it's been one hill of a summer for attendance!!! All the crowds have been enthusiastic and energetic. I would imagine that it all comes down to which events know how to "put on a show" in every facet of the word.

~I can highly recommend the Detroit Games for anyone that truly appreciates the cultural side of the events. I learned SO MUCH about Scotland that I'm still reading more about what I was introduced to.

[Alan H]

Here in Nor Cal I notice much the same thing as Panache....the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer

Woodland is big, Pleasanton is big. They don't seem to be getting smaller despite the fact that both venues are incredibly HOT.

Livermore and Campbell were small-ish and getting smaller. It doesn't help that the weather was brutally hot to the point of dangerous for some folks, for Campbell. If Campbell doesn't get a bigger turnout and some more vendors the festival might be gone in a couple of years.

But then again, as Panache points out, the Ben Lomond Games are small, but the venue is so nice that I will come back again and again. I don't see them getting any smaller. So it's a mixed bag.

[Bob C]

the Ben Lomond Games are small, but the venue is so nice that I will come back again and again. I don't see them getting any smaller. So it's a mixed bag.

Venue is a a big part of it, all right. Here in upstate New York, the Central New York Scottish Games in Liverpool are held in a nice, shady park along a river. The pipe band competitions are held at the bottom of a little hillside that serves as a natural amphitheater. It's always a pleasure to go. The Capital District Scottish Games in Altamont, on the other hand, are on hot, flat, dusty fairgrounds. Even though the vendors, bands and athletics at the latter are at least as good as the former (and slightly closer to my home), I'd choose Liverpool every time.

[Chukta]

[QUOTE=MACKAY;573081]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.QUOTE]

I've noticed the same thing here at our local Games. The Renaissance Geeks and the White Surpremacists have ruined a nice event. I don't attend our local Games anymore due to that. The Renaissance types have their own fairs and festivals. Why muck up ours?

[creativeaccents]

I think that Matt is correct. Seems the older GAMES such as Stone Mountain and Grandfather Mountain have spawned many new ones, but they have also spawned many Celtic Festivals. Went to a few that were little more than small towns attempting to draw customers for the declining downtown areas. I'm reminded of the art festvals that used to be legitimate artists, but have evolved into opportunities to draw tourism and sell all manner of cheaply made crafts and gift items. When Celtic begins to imply all manner of wares imported from around the world, the attendees become quickly disenchanted.