Scottish Fest May 23-24 2015 Costa Mesa Ca

[Elizabeth]

http://www.scottishfest.com/

From the website;

"The Festival will be held on May 23 and 24, 2015 from 9:00am until 6:00pm at the Orange County Fair & Event Center
(Orange County Fairgrounds), located at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, California.

The Massed Bands will perform at the opening ceremony on Saturday starting at 12:00 Noon, and at Closing Ceremonies,
held on Sunday starting at 5:00pm

A Memorial Service honoring our veterans will be held at 9:45am on Sunday at the Alex Beaton Stage."

Tickets seem reasonable to me. Presale is a bit less. Parking is $7.00 a day.

[Alan H]

I'll be there both days, as I'm arriving late Friday night with a truckload of cabers, but don't throw until Sunday.

[sydnie7]

Bob and I will be there both days, wandering but centered at the Clan Donnachaidh tent as usual.

[Tomak]

The wife and son and I will be there Saturday.

[OC Richard]

I'll be there all weekend with the Long Beach Fire Department Pipe Band.

We look something like this (I'm the one closest to the camera)



Hope to see you guys!

BTW one of the drawback to these Games is the extremely expensive beer ($14 a cup as I recall). And, they search your coolers when you come in, unless you get lucky.

The good news is that nearby there's an amazing place called Goat Hill Tavern, which looks like this



Here.

http://www.goathilltavern.com/

One restaurant reviewer called it "a funky, stinky rat-hole". But, with over 140 beers on tap, some you may never find on tap elsewhere, it's well worth the trip.

[sydnie7]

My experience with Goat Hill Tavern dates back a few decades, but even then it was recommended that you enjoy it in the daytime and abandon it to the crazies at night. . .

[marypenny]

Garth and I will be there both days. I will be pretty much in the Clan Donnachaidh tent the whole weekend although I am mobile now. Really looking forward to getting out and this is a real favorite Games of mine! Garth and Ginger and another Clan member are going down to the fairgrounds today to set up the tent. I will stay home and bake something to share at the tent. Any XMarks folks are welcome to join us and taste the Almond Shortbread Fingers I'm baking!

[marypenny]

And the USMC band will be there....joining in the Salute to the Veterans on Sunday. Anyone who served their country will want to be there to see how well Chris Lamberton, Major, USMC. Ret. puts on a service honoring those who served, those who paid the ultimate price, and those currently serving. When the pipe band plays Highland Cathedral...well, there shouldn't be a dry eye in the house!

[grizzbass]

my kids and I will be there

[OC Richard]

Well I had a great time yesterday. As usual the Games are a time to meet up with people I only see at Games, catch up on everything. Yes we're all connected on FaceBook and various sites but it's just not the same as having a beer and a chat!

I did stop by the Donnachaidh booth early in the day, but Sydnie had not yet arrived, I was told. Then things got crazy for us Pipe Band people, what with both Opening and Closing ceremonies, and competition in between, we're basically doing our band thing from 11am till 6pm.

Yes the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band is amazing. I noted, last year, that the female Marines were wearing the same "cover" (hat) as the men, and talked with a couple of them about it. I was told it was up to the particular Commanding Officer, that some did that for a more uniform appearance. This is the same band that used rope-tension 18th century drums for a time.

I'm very proud of a former piper in our band, who upon finishing High School joined the Marines as a musician. He's stationed on the East coast and is having a great time playing music as a Marine!

Sorry I won't be around this morning for the Memorial Service, because I'm doing a church gig. Afterwards I'll zip over to the Fairgrounds and have to park in BFE.

Our band had a good run, won Grade Four.