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With another successful Kincardine Scottish Festival and Highland Games event over, organizers are already looking ahead to next year.

Event manager Diahanne Thomson said an estimated 12,000 to 13,000 people attended the 12th annual festival, with record sales at the beer tent.

"It was beautiful weather, warm and sunny, and it rained a couple of times but we had no problems," she said. "It was a great event and we were so pleased to hear people say it was so professionally-run."

This is the first year the festival committee has operated at arm's length from the Municipality of Kincardine.

Thomson said the security company did an admirable job, and the volunteers were awesome - helpful and hard-working.

"The organizers of the heavy events, down at Station Beach, were thrilled with that location," she said. "It attracted more people. They felt as if the heavy games were more a part of the whole festival, because they were closer and they could hear the pipes at the beach. They want that location again next year."

She thanked everyone who helped with the event, especially those who opened their homes to host visiting pipe bands. "I talked with a woman from Michigan who hadn't heard about the Kincardine festival until she was at the Embro games. They came to Kincardine and loved it and they're coming back next year."

Sandy Donald of the festival executive gave praise to the Kincardine public works and parks departments, especially Jeff Ruetz, for their support throughout the weekend.

"People love coming to the Kincardine Scottish Festival because everything is close together," he said. "They can watch the Highland dancing and listen to the pipe bands, all in the same location.

"This event has matured and is a real community festival," he said. "We find the evening ceilidhs are more of a social time for young people."

Donald noted the executive is looking for more people to help out next year.

"The festival is getting so big, we need others to come onboard," he said. "There are a huge amount of logistics and it takes a lot of time and energy to put this all together."

There are 12 positions on the executive, plus other jobs that committees could handle. Those who are interested can call 519-396-9300.

Donald said the festival committee had a good relationship with the organizers of Canada Day and the Cruise Night which all fell on the same day this year.

The Pentecostal Church youth group came out early in the morning and cleaned up the park each day and did a fantastic job, said Donald. And the Kincardine Community Living people have asked if they could help next year.

Some of the top volunteers include Wayne Fink, Gilda McFarlane, Ian Campbell, Jean Rodgers, Jack Searson, Darlene Stevens, Peter Blackwood, Rod MacDonald and Tim McFarlane.

"We had a few problems, with parking and that sort of thing, but nothing insurmountable," said Donald.

For complete results from the piping, drumming and pipe band competitions, click here.

For complete results from the Highland dancing competition, click here.

Julia DiCastri places in all the dances in her premier group at the Kincardine Scottish Festival and Highland Games
photo by Adrienne DiCastri

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Tuesday, July 26, 2011