As the Orillia Scottish Festival kicked off Saturday, the pipers played and the people followed.
“The sound of them — it’s perfect,” said Garry Beddows, who travels around the area following highland performances. “It’s a sound you just can’t duplicate.”
The Orillia resident, who moved here from Wales about 50 years ago, said he and his wife simply love the music and the festival and have been attending it for almost a decade.
“The setting by the lake is just perfect,” said Beddows. “And they have a good collection of mass bands.”
Fourteen bands from around the area played first during the parade and then at the park as part of this year's 42nd annual event honouring the clan Buchanan. A different clan is honoured each year.
The bagpipes were literally music to Jackie Flowers’ ears.
“I’ve loved them my whole life,” she said of the distinctive bagpipes. “My mom used to say, 'I have so much hot air, I’d make a good bagpipe player.'”
The Orillia resident praised the atmosphere, the music and the talent.
“This, to me, is very enjoyable,” said Flowers, adding she could enjoy it all day long despite the stifling heat. “I’m like a little kid as I hear them coming down the street.”
The soaring 40-plus-degree heat forced some change in plans for the festival, said Jim Campbell, a member of the organizing committee. The mass band performances were cut short because of the high temperature.
“The heat is sure an issue,” he said. “That's why everything is being cut short. Some of the band members are aging. They're getting older, and to stand in the sun is just asking too much, after they've been in a parade for a half hour.”
Beating the heat was definitely a challenge, said Cameron Renwick, a pipe major with the Hunstville band Cameron of Lochiel.
“We ensure each band member has a water bottle holder so they can drink water as they’re marching,” he said. “Then they get water as soon as they get into the park, so they’re well hydrated.”
As a rule, said Renwick, band members are tasked to watch out for each other during the parade.
“If anyone wants to step out of the parade or sit out a performance in the mass band, they can do so,” he said. “We’re sensitive to the fact that some people are unable to withstand a day like today.”
Aside from the heat, he said, the festival was one of the band's favourite events to perform in.
The Scottish country dancers came out after the bands had performed a couple of pieces. Their performances were to be followed by Tom Leadbeater, who comes from Nova Scotia.
After his performance, Orillia firefighters were to compete with the Severn firefighters in a tug of war, which was won by the Orillia firefighters last year.
As well, families took their children to the Children’s Village, where they played games and did freestyle painting.
The festival continues on Sunday with a 'kirking of the Buchanan tartan' at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Peter Street, said Campbell.
But the best-kept secret of the festival happens on Sunday afternoon, he added.
“At 1:30 p.m., there’s a ceilidh at the legion,” said Campbell. “All the legion pipe bands from the area practise at the Orillia legion on the Sunday morning. They come down into the poolroom and play.”
Entry is by donation, he said, but everyone is welcome to stop by even if they don’t want to pay anything.
As well, said Campbell, Tom Leadbetter also performs at the legion tomorrow, along with the highland dancers.
“It's a party beyond parties, and it's a best-kept secret in Orillia,” he said.
