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Gathering of the Clans
Cruinneachadh
nam Fineachan
established 1951
A hundred thousand
welcomes
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Monday, July 1st 2013 ***
This year's parade theme:
"2013 - the year of the Korean War Veteran"
Maritimers love to party and Pugwash is no
exception. Canada Day, July 1st, kicks off our summer of parties
with the Gathering of the Clans. This event is the first
Highland celebration of the season. It is a party, Scottish
style, with piping, drumming, highland dancing, highland games,
artisans, midway, concerts, food and artisan vendors and
stupendous fireworks display at dusk.
The Grand Parade winds its way along streets lined with throngs
of people. We fill our parade with pipe and drum bands, floats,
fire trucks, clowns,
horses and surprises.
Early in the morning, local and international highland dancers take
to the Eaton Park stage for ScotDance sanctioned competions. Lovers of Pipes and Drums will
enjoy the ACPBA sanctioned competitions on the grounds of the
national historic site, Thinkers' Lodge. At the Cyrus Eaton Elementary
School, steely muscled men dressed in their
kilts, toss the caber and compete in other highland games.
Many of these competitors are Canadian and international
champions at their sport.
The official opening is at 2
pm in Eaton Park,
when local, Provincial and Federal
representatives are led to
the stage by a bagpiper to officially declare the Gathering
of the Clans open!
Enjoy a wide range of food and then take in a wonderful
afternoon of entertainment in Eaton Park. Wrap up the day by
attending the evening's special stage show featuring the best of
Maritime musicians and a spectacular fireworks display over the
waters of Pugwash Harbour.
This year's headliners are
Evans and Doherty
who will play from 8:30pm until the fireworks go off at dusk
(about 10:15pm). Local favourites such as Eric Fresia and
his family and Alicia Putnam and her family will be playing at
6pm and 7:15pm. The popular Friday night Chatterbox house
band, the Abandoned House Band, will open the stage at 4pm
followed by Sweet Addictions from Amherst at 5pm.
The 1pm Children's Parade
ends at the Village Hall. Soon after that (about 1:20pm),
children's entertainer, Rocky Ripley, will play for the children
on the grassed property behind the Village Hall.
2013 will celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the Gathering of the Clans. This
Scottish festival started in 1951 when four local men, Bill
Wilson, Bill Fillmore, Alex Walsh and Herbert Smith wanted a way
to mark Dominion Day. The organizers had as their primary
objectives, a good time and fundraising for the Red Cross
Hospital. The Gathering became renowned for its highland dancing
competition. In 1957, an Act of Nova Scotia Legislature
incorporated the "Gathering of the Clans and Fisherman's
Regatta."
Though Dominion Day is now called Canada Day, the Gathering of
the Clans' objective remains the same: fun for the family and
fundraising for the community. Monies collected from the small
entrance fee helps support our local hospital, library,
volunteer fire department and school projects, etc.
The Gathering of the
Clans is held every July 1st,
Video from the 2010 Gathering
Video from
the 2012 Gathering
Everyone is welcome - come
out and help us celebrate the 62nd Gathering of the Clans
in beautiful
Pugwash by the sea!
LINKS:
Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association
Festival of Tartans,
New Glasgow, July 20th
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