SCOTTISH IN FLORIDA +Scottish Festivals +bagpipers for hire.
Och Aye….Scotfact: A third of all Americans surveyed by the Scottish Tourist board thought haggis was an animal they could hunt and catch. Many booked trips to Scotland hoping to go on haggis-hunting tours. There are dozens of Scottish societies around Florida, many holding Highland Games and Festivals…see the list below.
TO HIRE A BAGPIPER in South Florida: Call Scotsman Nigel McDonald [786] 205-5350, an accomplished bagpiper/pipe major who has won many of Florida’s piping competitions and played at droves of weddings and other functions around Ft. Lauderdale/Miami/Palm Beach. 2] Professional bagpiper Byron Hoffman is also available for South Florida functions. Call [754] 204-0716. 3] The Palm Beach Pipes & Drums group have played continuously since 1980 at parades, weddings, funerals, private gigs and social functions. Contact them also to hire a bagpiper for your events. Call [561] 848-0712, [561] 308-6216 or [561] 487 6459.
EVERY JANUARY! DO TRY A BURNS SUPPER….Celebrate Scotland’s world-famous poet Robert Burns. Join fellow English/Scottish/Welsh/Irish local expats for this unique event. People gather for Rabbie Burns suppers in all corners of the world with annually over 9000 such celebrations held. One of the best in Florida is presented by the Scottish-American Society of South Florida [SASSF]. I have been and it’s a truly convivial evening–PK. INFO/TICKETS info see www.sassf.org.
► In JANUARY. The annual Florida Keys Celtic Festival in Marathon . Wear some tartan and go! The Florida Keys Celtic Festival features family-friendly Celtic rock and Traditional music, Irish & Scottish Dancing, Sheep-dog herding, Pipes and Drums, a Children’s Glen with games, face painting and fun activities, and fabulous Celtic (and Keys) foods and crafts vendors. Highland Athletics, the original Strongman sport, features a sanctioned Woman’s Highland Athletics Competition and Men’s Highland Athletic Demonstrations. See www.floridakeyscelticfestival.com Call [305] 743-6412
► IN MARCH. The SOUTH FLORIDA SCOTTISH FESTIVAL and Games is a major all day event attended by thousands of Scots and Wannabe Scots, English/Irish/Welsh and American Anglophiles each year. For details/location/tickets see website www.sassf.org Established by the Scottish-American Society of South Florida [SASSF] in 1983. OCH AYE. It’s immense fun—Tartan everywhere, bagpipers, clans, highland dancing competitions, Scottish country dancing, Scottish Heavy Athletics, professional Scottish entertainers, Clan tents, sheepdog demonstrations, Scottish/Irish/English/Welsh merchandise, foods and imported beers. Wear Something Tartan and Go! INFO/TICKETS on www.SASSF.org Call [954] 460-5000
► Usually every March in Sarasota Area: The Caledonian Club presents its annual Scottish Thistle Ball. This elegant formal affair will have Scottish entertainment, piping and dancing. INFO www.caledonianclub.org
► SEPTEMBER or OCTOBER the Annual Royal Tartan Ball in Tampa, for those wanting a fun experience with a Celtic Flair. For this year’s date and info call David Trick [727] 243-7176 or John Miller [813 ]735-9005
► DUNEDIN Annual Scottish Games in April. CURRENT INFO/TICKETS on www.dunedinhighlandgames.com
► JACKSONVILLE AREA annual Scottish games in February. CURRENT INFO/TICKETS on www.neflgames.com
► MOUNT DORA Annual Scottish Festival, since 2002. 2023 EVENT: FEBRUARY 18 and 19. See www.mountdorascot.com for next year’s details.
► ORLANDO SCOTTISH GAMES every January. See website www.flascot.com Or call Chuck McGrew [407] 682-1238 or Chip Crawford [407] 841-8831
► OCALA SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES in October. Call organizer David Martin [352] 454-0672
► PALM BEACH SCOTTISH-AMERICAN SOCIETY Established years ago. Tel. [561] 965-2562 Ask for Winnie.
► PANAMA CITY Highland Games in March. INFO/TICKETS on www.pbcscotttishfestival.com or Call [850] 769-4000.
► SARASOTA area Scots! Highland Games February 10, 2024. See website see www.suncoastscots.com
►SARASOTA Scottish Heritage Society of Sarasota Call [941] 342-0509
► SARASOTA The St. Andrews Society for Scots in Florida [941] 722-9840. Ask for Shirley or see their website www.standrewssocietysarasota.com
►TALLAHASSEE SCOTTISH GAMES usually in April. Call President Keith Lindsey [850] 212-2926
►TAMPA and DUNEDIN AREA The St. Andrews Society. Call boardmember and true Scot Fiona Prosser [813] 317-6039.
►NORTHEAST FLORIDA [JACKSONVILLE area] Scottish Games in February. Call [904] 725-5744. See website www.neflgames.com
► VENICE West Florida….The Caledonian Club. For Scots and those with Scottish roots. Call Pauline Mitchell [941] 485-5199.
► FT.LAUDERDALE Highlanders holds Scottish theme events throughout the year. For information call [954] 962-9393
► THE OFFICIAL BRITISH GOVERNMENT WEBSITE for info on Scotland: www.scotland.gov.uk
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SCOTTISH FOOTBALL MATCHES–Glasgow Rangers and Celtic. In Ft. Lauderdale watch Rangers matches at the King’s Head Pub in Sunrise [954] 572-5933 Call Derek Walker of Rangers Supporters Club [954] 296-3374. Naples Rangers Supporters Club watch Rangers matches live at the English pub in Naples–call Club secretary Peter Hull on [239] 404-6137. OrlandoRangers Supporters Club gathers at the George& Dragon pub [407] 351-3578. A roomful of Scots can’t be dull! The pub shows all Rangers’s games live. This club just celebrated its 10th anniversary. INFO Phone Colin Bowman 407-536-9732. CELTIC: 1] In Orlando the Celtic Supporters Club watch all Celtic matches live usually at the Lucky Leprechaun Irish Pub, 7032 International Drive, Orlando. Call President John Howley on [386] 451 4645. 2] BROWARD CELTIC SUPPORTERS CLUB meets at the Fox and Hounds Pub in Ft.Lauderdale . Call Pub [954] 491-3697 OR call Club President John Paton [954] 473-5167
WELSH JOKE: Two Texans Rex and Chuck were touring Wales when they came to the town with the world’s longest name. LLANFAIRPWLLGWNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDROBWLLLLANTYSILIOGOGOGOCH said the sign. They argued about how say it. Stumped. So they went into a local burger place and asked the waitress.
REX: How do you correctly pronounce the name of this place please?
CHUCK: Say it really slowly.
WAITRESS: MAC—-DON—ALDS.
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