MANCHESTER, NH – The 23rd annual New Hampshire Indoor Scottish Festival is happening April 10-12, at Manchester Memorial High School. “It’s the largest of its kind in the USA,” said Claire MacPherson, president of Scottish Arts, a non-profit organization that relies on volunteers to organize the event.
The free event begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. “We have our first thing in the morning which will be the solo piping competitions and the drumming. Members of the public are very welcome to come and listen to that. There’s also going to be, in the main auditorium, Highland Dance,” MacPherson said. Check out their website (nhssa.org) for a more comprehensive timeline.
The competition is large and fierce. “This year we have 16 pipe bands coming along so that’s going to be quite a spectacular sight and unlike Highland Games that would usually be outside, this will be inside in the comfort of nice comfy armchairs in the auditorium so it’s not dependent on the weather. That will be a wonderful sight to see, all the bands up on the stage.”
Big talent from the piping community will be judging the performers with a keen ear. “We’re very lucky to have some really amazing judges including Bruce Gandy who’s a world-class piper. He will also be running workshops on the Sunday that’s for, you know, those workshops are for our musicians at that time,” MacPherson said.
More music with unique instrumentation is on the way too. “We also have a lady this year for the first time, she’s coming along with her clàrsach. It’s a Scottish harp. It’s a little bit smaller than a normal-sized harp but she’s going to be playing that for the general public coming in so they can enjoy that,” she explained.
Attendees will have other activities to pursue as well. “We’re also having a castle building craft so the children can build castles so that’s going to be amazing,” MacPherson said.
Vendors from previous festivals will be setting up shop with, “beautiful jewelry and different lovely gifts and things that are more artisan, you know, you’re not going to find them anywhere else really,” she said.
Those interested in Scottish heritage or genealogy will be in luck.
“We have our Scottish clans and that’s for taking a deep dive into your genealogy and getting a bit more of a sense of the soul of old Scotland really with them,” MacPherson said. The Scots Charitable Society which has been around since 1657 will be there, too.
Two historical presentations will be taking place. The first is from Julie Potter-Dunlop who is the President of the Maine Ulster Scots Project at 11:30 a.m. entitled “The Ulster-Scots- who they were, how they made their way to the wildlands of Maine, and their contribution to the American Revolutionary War.” MacPherson talked about how, “they’re actually literally digging up their history as they do a lot of archaeological projects there in Maine to discover the old settlements where they came over and originally settled and how they went on to influence the building of what is Maine today really. So that’s a fascinating organization.”
The next presentation will be given by John D. Demos of the Old Berwick Historical Society at 1 p.m. entitled “The Scottish Invasion and the Battle of Marston Moor, the largest of the “War of Three Kingdoms”- the first English Civil War in 1644”
MacPherson explained how “he is giving a talk on Scots Prisoners of War. That’s a nice tie in with the Scots Charitable Society so he’s going to be talking about that.” If these topics are of interest be sure to stop by this Saturday.
If black puddings and savory meat pies are calling to you there will be Cameron’s Scottish Market food truck which serves authentic Scottish fare among other fine selections.
Although you do not need to be from the Highlands to enjoy the festival, says MacPherson, “I would say it’s for everybody and I think it’s just a nice chance to get together and celebrate our common humanity really. I personally find that the deeper I go into the Scottish culture the more ties I’m finding with other cultures.”
Lastly, the cookies are the best part, she says.
“Also, I will have free shortbread to hand out and a free festival program at the door. Hopefully people will come and really enjoy it and have a lovely day out,” MacPherson said.
nhssa.org
Saturday, April 11 (Check website for event info for Friday evening and Sunday)
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Manchester Memorial High School
1 Crusader Way, Manchester, NH 03103
FREE
Zach Lewis has written for publications like the Hippo, Neon Snooze, and Geo Week News. He obtained his MFA in writing from the University of New Hampshire.