July 19, 2008
(Saturday) Glasgow Lands Scottish
Festival at Look
Park, Florence (Northampton), MA
WSWNE will,
for the sixth year in a
row, have a Welsh "clan
tent" among those of our Celtic cousin Scots.
Here
is how we looked last year.
Are we having fun or what?
Spend
all, or part, of the day from 9:00 am to 9:30 p.m.(Celtic music
continues on until 9:30 p.m. but our
WSWNE tent will likely be removed in the late afternoon)
Admission $15.00 (children 6-12 $5, under age 6 FREE).
Parking $2.00 all proceeds to Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
For more festival information and discount advance ticket sales go to http://www.glasgowlands.org
The festival includes great pageantry as the clan flags are carried in
for the opening ceremonies - so many lions rampant carried by folks in
kilts are joined by our own red dragons held aloft by our
representatives in "Welsh lady" and Welsh quarryman costumes. Not to
mention sevesral dozen massed pipe and drum bands!
Events go on all day at multiple locations: rousing Pipe & Drum
band competitions, Highland dance competition, Highland athletic games,
the Celtic harps of the Pioneer Valley Harper's Guild, a civil war
encampment, demonstrations of traditional weaving and spinning, Border
Collie sheep herding demonstrations, even a children's play area and
their own children's Highland games.
Enjoy a variety of fine Celtic musicians & singers. Browse the many
Celtic vendor's booths including "Hiraeth" - one of our favorites for
Welsh books, jewelry, and more. Get a preview of their offerings
at
http://www.hiraethcelticgoods.com/
Sample the foods including many common to the British Isles, like fish
& chips and meat pies. For the second year, there is even a "Celtic
Pub".
Come join in the fun. We need members to take turns at our tent,
greeting visitors - many of whom, we have found, share our interest in
Wales and all things Welsh. Please
contact Ed or Beth Brown at edbethui@comcast.net or
413-562-3990 to let us know that you
will
spend some time at the Welsh Society tent.
August 23,
2008
(Saturday) Celts
& Currachs festival
in New London, CT
WSWNE
will again have a Welsh Traditions tent from 10:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.
on the lovely, breezy, historic waterfront
... and this event is FREE. For more festival information
go to:
http://newlondonmainstreet.org/events/celtscurrachs2008.php
Here
is how we looked last year enjoying
the cooling breeze on the waterfront!
Of special interest will be Welsh-American
singer Jodee James who sings
in both Welsh and English - ancient tales and ageless
themes of love, loyalty, longing and mystery, with a voice that is
touching and intimate, Jodee conjures the very essence of tradition,
whether of this century or many centuries before us. Nobles, shepherds,
lovers and dreamers, birds as messengers and inspiring heroes all come
to life in Jodee's music. http://jodeejames.home.att.net
Shirley Gilmartin, who made all the necessary arrangements to have a
Welsh presence there last year, is looking
for help in setting up the booth before the 10:00 a.m. start and/or to
take turns at the booth greeting visitors during the day until about
5:00 p.m. Please phone Shirley
Gilmartin at 860-887-1794 to let her know you are interested and
find out more of this year's details.
And this is another great opportunity for CT members to get together
and for MA members to take advantage of our new Carpool Coordinator,
Sherry Williams: 860-872-0949 or sawretired@earthlink.net
WSWNE
Annual Fall Gathering in South Hadley, MA: Saturday, September 27, 2008
Same place as past
years: All Saints' Episcopal Church hall in
South Hadley, MA
All Saints'
Episcopal Church hall is at 7 Woodbridge Street , South Hadley, MA
(across from the Post Office in the center of town). See driving directions at church website
http://www.allsaintsshadley.org
New Time: 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. (trading in our usual luncheon for a
later Welsh Tea)
The program will come first, featuring
Tom Bernard speaking on "Welsh Pirates of the Caribbean"!
After the program, we
will share a special Welsh Tea (Te Bach).
There will be scones,
Welshcakes, and more.
If you would like to contribute some
traditional Welsh goodie, please contact the event coordinator,
Veronica Chapman at 413-532-5252.
Cost: just $10 for members ($12 for
non-members; children under 12 free)
