26th McHenry Highland Festival-June-1st 2013. Ok, let’s try to gain a basic understanding of what the 26th McHenry Highland Festival is all about. Let me just run through some events and activities and see if this annual event peaks your interest.
Celtic Climbing Walls, Clans and Geneaology, Sheep and Highland cattle, Harpist Lynne Barnes, Garrett Highlands Pipes and Drums, Pipes and drums of St. Andrews, Irish Dance, Parade of Clans, Clan Chieftain Fiddler Bonnie Rideout, Shanty Irish, Sword Players, Scottish County Dancing and many more events to take you to a faraway ancient world.
I have attended over the last few years and can tell you this is a birds-eye look back in time to roots some of us share. Regardless, we all share in our histories, some fascinating music diversity, cultural wonders and competitive games that have molded who we all are. I watched last year what seemed to be “he-men” picking up a telephone sized tree and throwing it end over end a heck of a long way. I got a hernia just watching. Also, another group of lads picked up this heavy iron weight with a big round handle and heaved it vertically over a pole vault high bar. Livestock, Kilts, Clans, and that soothing and influencing Celtic music make this event a must for you and your family. If you are here at the lake this weekend, follow the pied piper Celtic bagpipe aura that will surround the lake and pull you toward the drums that sounded hundreds of years ago.
