Crowd trades kilts for quilts at opening of the Kincardine Scottish Festival, Friday night

The crowd traded kilts for quilts at the opening of the Kincardine Scottish Festival and Highland Games, Friday night, in Victoria Park.

While the welcome was warm, the night was incredibly chilly for the 1st of July.

The event actually began Friday afternoon, with tremendous local entertainment on the main stage, by The Ballaghs, The Thogs, Shane Cook and the Woodchippers, and The Pleats.



The Pleats feature Laurie Dalton (L), guest vocalist Erinn Dalton, Nicole Reid, and Brenda Manderson, singing four-part harmony; absent is Nick Reid

During the opening ceremonies, MC Andy McBride welcomed everyone, and the Kincardine Community Singers sang four national anthems: Scottish, American, British, and Canadian, much to the delight of the crowd.

Event manager Janice Griffith-Curtis then introduced the executive and noted that she is retiring after five years, and Linda Johnson is taking over.

Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb welcomed everyone to "Kincardine in November!"

"And this morning, I believe we had the wettest Canada Day in the history of this country," he said. "But seriously, thank you to everyone who puts this event together - have a great weekend!"

Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson congratulated the festival committee on a wonderful event, and said she was proudly wearing the "Thompson Blue" tartan which she purchased that evening at one of the vendors on the grounds.

Kincardine deputy mayor Jacqueline Faubert jokingly thanked festival chairman Tony Doherty and Griffith-Curtis for giving everyone a taste of the Scottish Highlands weather that morning, with the pouring rain and high wind during the Canada Day parade and ceremony.

"On behalf of the mayor, council and staff and our residents, welcome to the Municipality of Kincardine," she said. "In honour of Canada Day, today, let us remember to be grateful that we live in a country where we can celebrate diversity, history and heritage without fear of reprisal. Have a wonderful weekend!"

Doherty thanked the volunteers, and the sponsors for supporting the festival, and helping make it happen every year.

As the first Grand Marshall of the event, Duncan Hawthorne, retired president and chief executive officer of Bruce Power, said he and his wife, Lesley, left Kincardine and returned to the United Kingdom at the first of May, "and it hasn't stopped raining since I got there! This morning, at the Canada Day ceremony, I had a flashback to that weather!"

He jokingly said there is a saying that the weather in Scotland is so severe that young people succumb early and old people envy them.

But in all seriousness, he said when you leave a place, that's when you realize how much you are giving up. "When Lesley and I were almost here, she got teary-eyed just to be back in this great community. Being Grand Marshall of this event means a lot to me; you never want to take your community for granted. And thanks to the wonderful volunteers!"

McBride as Grand Chieftain, echoed Hawthorne's sentiments about Kincardine being a special place.

"We came to Canada 26 years ago, and when we came to Kincardine, I sat in one of those big chairs and looked out at the lake and said this is just like home," he said. "Then I went back to Scotland, and I realized an awful thing, Kincardine is better!

"I'm thrilled to have been part of the Kincardine Scottish Festival for many years, and I'm honoured to be the Grand Chieftain. Be an honourary Scot this weekend and participate in all the events. I officially open the 2016 Kincardine Scottish Festival and Highland Games."

The evening entertainment included the Kincardine Community Singers, Albannach, Madison Violet, Ashley MacIsaac, Arvel Bird, The Mudmen, and Bessie and the Zinc Buckets.