Celtic Music at the Beach

There will be a Celtic Music Festival next month at Ormond Beach, featuring more than twenty entertainers and groups.  There will even be a "Jam Tent" where you can join in with your own fiddle, bodhran or whatever you like to play.

More info here.

St. Andrews Society Pub Night

Friday, Feb 18th 7:00PM at Scruffy Murphy's in College Park (Orlando)

If you have a kilt, wear it.

If you don't have one, wear something (Murray) tartan.

If you don't have that, well...wear something, please.

More information here.

Central Florida Games

Click image for Slideshow

The Scottish games season is underway in Florida. First we set up at the Central Florida Scottish Highland Games near Orlando on January 15 - what a crowd! This was the busiest we've been yet, met dozens of people, many Murrays and Flemings, and all of them seemed good people to know. Seven of them joined us in the parade, our largest group to date.

Sarasota Highland Games

What are you doing this weekend?  If you don't know yet, think about going to the Sarasota Highland Games and Celtic Festival.

This event had been in decline for several years and even skipped 2010, but is coming back this year with a roar.  One of the officials told me today that 33 clans (including Murray, of course) have reservations, only one less than the Central Florida Games had.  Last time they were tucked away in a back corner of the Venice airport but this year they will be practically downtown at the old Sarasota Fairgrounds.

Gates open at 9:00AM.  Come on out and drop by the Murray tent.

Update: There's a ceilidh Friday night.  Party doon, lads and lassies!

 Sarasota Highland Games and Celtic Festival website

It's Fun to be Scottish - Here's How

A few ways to celebrate your Scottishness -

• Buy a kilt
• Wear it - there's probably a pub near you that has an occasional kilt night
• Spell 'Whisky' without the 'e' - from uisge beatha, Gaelic for water of life
• Go to a Burns Supper - you'll love the haggis...and Rabbie Burns's address to it
• Go the nearest Scottish Games - heavy athletics, consisting of heavy athletes tossing heavy objects
• Find other Scottish and Celtic festivals - they don't all have athletics.  Some, like the annual Caloosatchee Celtic Festival are all about the music.
• Join your clan society.  Have you ever gone to Scottish festivals or games and been unable to find Murray tent? Back in the 1960s, Horace Murray and Hal Murray had that happen so they started the Murray Clan Society of North America.  As a member of the Society you help make sure that the Murray's are represented at as many festivals as possible.  You can get an application here.

Upcoming Scottish Games and Festivals

Another season of Games has started, and as usual, Florida has more than any other state.  Come on out to one and meet some kin, learn about your heritage, listen to bagpipes skirl, eat haggis, sing, clap, dance or stomp along with Albannach, the Wyndbreakers and other bands, march in a parade.  It's fun to be Scottish!

The Clan Murray tent will be at these games:

Sarasota Highland Games and Celtic Festival - Sarasota

January 29, 2011 http://www.sarasotahighlandgames.com/

Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival - Green Cove Springs (near Jacksonville)

February 26, 2011 http://neflgames.com/Home_Page.php

Panama City Highland Games & Scottish Festival - Panama City

March 11, 2011 http://www.panamacityhighlandgames.com/

Dunedin Highland Games - Dunedin (near Clearwater)

April 9, 2011 http://www.dunedinhighlandgames.com/games.html

Ocala Scottish Highland Games and Celtic Festival - Ocala

October 7, 2011 (tentative date) http://www.ocalascottishhighlandgames.com/

For other games, check the schedule at http://www.scottishbanner.com/events/events.aspx?Country=USA