Capt. Mondo's World o' Mondo-ness

Scottish Festival at Kew Beach Park
Around lunchtime I took the girls down to Kew Beach Park to see the Scottish festival happening there. Tried to persuade Vanessa to wear her kilt, but she was too shy, and was afraid that she may be asked to dance if she dressed up. ;-) Couldn't find Annie's kilt, but she was so happy to be wearing a new dress (inherited from her older sister) that that wouldn't have been an option anyway.

The weather was kind, a sunny but occasionally breezy 20C or so. The first group of musicians was not the bagpipes we were expecting, but a traditional drum and pipe band, a la The Chieftains. I bought a home-made berry-filled scone for each of the girls and we sat down on the ground and listened to a few tunes until the end of the set. Then we walked around to look at the dozen or so stalls set up around the north end of the park.

Not too much to see; a few vendors with good- to down-right cheesy Scottish items. The girls cheerfully gawped over the Celtic jewelry, and Vanessa was taken by some t-shirts with over-the-top imagery of fairies and the like, but they were all unfortunately meant for women. A couple of local retailers that otherwise have no Scottish affiliation (though likely sponsors) were also there. There was also a Canadian Forces jeep and tent promoting the army cadets. The tents doing the most business were the ones selling food, including the “tea shop” where I bought the scones from. Having said that, the festival drew out a large crowd, and I was surprised that there weren't more vendors there.

Ran into Graydon from work there shortly after we arrived. He was decked out in a plain "everyday" kilt, and had already been there for a couple of hours by the time we arrived. He said, quite rightly, that it's not everyday he gets to wear a tradition Scots outfit in public. Someday I ought to do the same.

Afterwards I took the girls to the Ben & Jerry's across the street for ice cream ($11 for three small ice creams, yow!) and then to the grocery store for jello followed by the candy store to get some Swedish fish jellies in order to make a special desert later with the kids.

Then to the Kew Beach park where we easily spent an hour in the playground. Heard a male singer crooning in the background, followed by bagpipes. After we finished at the playground, we went back and I took some pics which went into the panoramic shot that accompanies this piece. Several young girls a few years older than Vanessa were dressed it bright Irish costumes and bedecked with Shirley Temple curls (wigs?) and danced to a few jigs. Annie imitated them and whirled around in her dress like a dervish.

A fun festival, one I discovered was in its second year when I went to their Web site (I don't remember hearing about it last year). Given the turnout, I imagine it will be back next year, hopefully bigger and with a higher profile.