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The Saskatchewan Highland Gathering and Celtic Festival draws out plenty of culture

Click to play video: 'Celtic Festival in Regina draws large crowd'
Celtic Festival in Regina draws large crowd
Hundreds flock to Victoria Park to celebrate Saskatchewan Celtic Gathering – May 21, 2016

REGINA – The Saskatchewan Highland Gathering and Celtic Festival does not care if you’re Celtic or not.

It’s a no pants, no problem. No scottish, no problem kind of feel.

Kilts, bagpipes and dancers fill Victoria Park all weekend until Sunday evening.

Emcee Andrew Gallaher is entertaining a portion of the crowd with facts and statistics.

“Céad Míle Fáilte, which means a hundred thousand welcomes [in Gaelic]…Celtic are the people who kind of originated in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and parts of France as well,” said Gallaher.
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Gaelic may have lost its popularity over the years, but the culture is still strong.

The Conservatory Performing Arts Celtic band played for the crowd, and Ian MacDonald who is a part of the Conservatory is very proud to see such a turn out.

“We get kids interested who have family connections. Mom or dad played or grandpa came from scotland or whatever and then sometime there are kids who are just interested, they heard pipes at something or other and they said to their mom and dad I want to do that,” MacDonald said.

The Dillman family and their entire band travelled from Nova Scotia to play Saturday. Young Clayton Dillman said he chose this classic cultural music for classic reasons.

“I said a piper, instead of a drummer because my brother picked a drummer.”

Classic cultural athletics set two world records at this year’s event. Caber toss, the throwing of a large tree log was one of many Highlands games on tap. Two world records were set at this year’s games.

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