By Darlene Mae O’Connor
There are so many things to love about life here around Chautauqua Lake. We are blessed with million-dollar views of sunsets on the water and an abundance of beautiful trees with sprawling canopy’s that provide us with cool shade on hot summer days. Surrounding us are rolling hills covered by lush green grass that hug ribbons of country roads as they wind through the valleys and along the water’s edge. On a bright day in summer, standing engulfed by a cobalt blue sky and surrounded by trees full of soft green vegetation, one could easily convince themself of having been transported to the Emerald Isles or to the Southern Uplands of Scotland.
It is easy to get lost in a Celtic Dream when you hear any one of eight Pipe Bands begin to play, or the people of 24 clans cheering on their favorite of the 32 Heavy Athletes competing in any one of the six Scottish Heavy Events, such as the Caber or the Sheath Toss presented by the Buffalo Heavies Kilted Throwers Club.
Providing festival goers with entertainment by Scottish and Irish Dancers, eight different Pipe Bands, Old Fashioned Fiddle Sessions, endless Celtic Music and Celtic Craft Vendors is how the Committee under the guidance of Doug Clark spend the year putting this classic cultural event together. This year feature performers from Gatlinburg Tennessee, TUATHA DEA, take the stage on Friday August 25th from 6:30-10pm. On Saturday, the Celtic Band from Canada, MUDMEN, will be the Feature Act, while all day long the air will be filled with sensational sound as bands with names like CELTIC CREEK, WATERHORSE, STEP IN TIME, EMERALD ISLE, BALLINLOCH, play on for our dancing and listening delight. TUATHA DEA shares a second performance on Saturday too. With all this and 30 Gathering of the Clans, Great Food, a Beer and Wine Garden and a Kids area offering a Clan Hunt, there is something for everyone of every age to enjoy.
The Celtic Festival was first held when Doug Clark was playing drums with the Alleghany Highlanders who later were sponsored by the AMVETS Post 1996, thus the 96th Highlander Pipes and Drums Inc. of Jamestown came to be. The Band performs at festivals and competitions throughout the year proudly representing Jamestown, New York and Chautauqua County. Members are from the Pennsylvanian communities of Erie, Youngsville and Warren, as well as, New York areas of Jamestown, Falconer, Frewsburg, Olean, Lakewood, Sherman, Bemus Point and Port Alleghany. Participating in concerts and parades throughout the tri-state area and having competed at the Highland games of Fort Erie, Canada, and in Edinboro and Ligonier, Pennsylvania. They have appeared by special invitation only to perform at the Amherst Scottish Festival in Amherst, New York and the Niagara Celtic Festival in Olcott, New York and in 2009 they were the Guest Band invited to play at the 75th Tartan Ball at the Rainbow Gardens in Erie Pennsylvania.
The Highlanders do what they do to help people at the Local and National Levels. They have raised money through their performances to help victims of Hurricane Katrina and the families of Fallen First Responders and Military personnel. Each year the proceeds from the festival pays for the festival of the upcoming year and anything they make above that, is put into a scholarship fund. These guys exemplify the sacrificial nature of music and how it encourages us to act on behalf of our better Angels.
So, weather you wear a Kilt of Clan colors or dawn denim, make sure you are dressed for a great day on the lake full of fun, great food and lovely libations, as you are entertained and inspired by the sounds of the White Cliffs of Dover.
Admission for this event is $15 per adult, [ages 17-59], $10 for Veterans & Seniors, [ages 60+] and youth [13-16] and children under 13 are free!
For more information and discounted tickets, check them out at www.96thhighlanders.com or on Facebook at Jamestown Regional Celtic Festival & Gathering of the Clans, allevents, or call the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau at 1-800-323-7360
The 96th Highlanders are always grateful for the contributions made by their supporters to provide this great event. If you would like to volunteer there is a place for you to be of service and remember for next year that you too can be a sponsor!
We’ll see you all Lakeside at the Mayville Lakeside Park on Rt. 394 in Mayville, New York