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It was a glorious day of competition and entertainment as the rain came early on and then a sunny, hot day shone on the 12th annual Kincardine Scottish Festival Saturday at Victoria Park and Station Beach.

Solo piping and drumming competitions took place throughout the streets surrounding Victoria Park, as well as the Piobaireachd competition.

Hundreds of Highland dancers competed on the stage at the west end of the park, and the heavy events and children's games were held at Station Beach beside Kincardine Harbour.

The day began with the firefighters breakfast, and continued with a tea room at Kincardine United Church, plus many regalia and food vendors and Clan Avenue in the park.

The Loch Huron Parade of the Clans marched through downtown Kincardine featuring the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band, heavy events athletes and visiting clans, as well as Clan MacGregor, the clan of honour, and festival chieftain Rose Gentles.

The heavy events included caber toss, hammer throw, weight over the bar, stone throw and sheaf toss for women, amateurs, professionals and master's divisions.

Organizers of these events said they preferred the lakeside location compared to St. Anthony's School because, despite the heat, there was a nice breeze off the lake.

Children's games featured face-painting by Buttons the Clown of Kinlough, puppeteer Andrea Zimmer, and other fun activities.

The pipe band competition took centre stage in the circle at the east end of the park and was a major attraction Saturday afternoon.

Late afternoon entertainment featured The Thogs, and the evening concert included Poor Angus and The Glengarry Bhoys.

Despite a brief shower around supper time, the rain, thunder and lightning lifted just in time for the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band and numerous visiting pipers and drummers to lead the Saturday Night Parade down Queen Street to Quinn Plaza and back to the park for a short concert.

Sunday's events include the Kirkin' O' the Tartan at Knox Presbyterian Church, Kincardine, Celtic Music in the Park with the Ballagh  Family, the Kincardine Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, The Thogs, Poor Angus and The Glengarry Bhoys, followed by the closing ceremonies at 6 p.m.

Scott Farlinger (L) adjusts the bagpipes for Dustin Stevens, both are with the Grand Celtic Pipe Band of Fergus

Kincardine firefighters Craig Palmateer (L) and Paul Serratore flip pancakes for the firefighters breakfast

Jeff MacDonald (L) sports the MacDonald tartan, with his son, Mitchell, 11, of Sutton; MacDonald's daughter was competing in Highland dance

Jordan Masales, 7, of Fort Erie is the overall winner for Beginners age seven

Serena Hunter (L), 3, and Annika Luinstra (R), 7, style Kim Luinstra's hair

Todd Turnbull (L) of the OPG heavy games, lets four-year-old Keegan Elgie, try to lift the 56-pound weight used in hammer throw; Keegan and his family were visiting from Southern California

Mark Valenti of Ohio competes in professional hammer throw

Christof Wand of Guelph throws the 56-pound hammer in the professional division

Alex Stanat of St. Thomas competes in Masters hammer throw

Kevin Fast of Cobourg throws the hammer in the Masters division

Jamie Trask of Alma throws the 28-pound hammer in the Junior class

Noah Curtis of Guelph competes in the Junior hammer throw

Jesse Trask of Alma throws the hammer in the Junior class

The 400 Squadron Pipes and Drums of Northern Ontario competes in the Grade 3 division



Piper Glenn Walpole of Tiverton, a member of the Peel Regional Pipe Band, competes in the professional march category



Liam MacDonald plays with the Grand Celtic Pipe Band of Fergus



Henry McKay of Toronto enjoys his breakfast; he and his family were visiting relatives in Kincardine on the weekend



The Parade of the Clan featuring festival chieftain Rose Gentles



Ireland Shears, 14, of Owen Sound practises the hornpipe



Sara Anderson (L), 8, and Maya Hunter, 8, both of Kincardine, win medals in Highland dancing



Alexandra Chapleau, 12, wins first in sword dance in the Novice 12 and over division

Olivia Kyle (L) and McKenna Lindsay dance the jig

Marie Wilson of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) explains the Deep Geologic Repository project to Alf Hutton of Pickering, at the site of the Kincardine Scottish Festival heavy games



Buttons the Clown paints a tiger face on Frankie Basile, 6, of Ohio; Frankie's family was visiting relatives at Bruce Beach



Natalie Walker (L), 4, and her sister, Megan, 6, of Exeter have their faces painted as tigers



Puppeteer Andrea Zimmer (L) and her helper, Kaleb Smith, tell the story of Jessie McCraig and the Ghillie Dhu (forest faerie)



Gavin Fiddler (L) and Kate Fiddler of the Pipes and Drums of Lindsay, take a break between competitions

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Monday, July 04, 2011