Wauwatosa Was Forever Plaid – or at Least for 1 Day

For the first Saturday in June, Wauwatosa seemed to be the center of the Scottish universe. Organizers anticipated a crowd of about 3,000 to attend the 73rd Scottish Fest Highland Games held in Hart Park.

On a day that was sunny, hot and humid but with a merciful breeze, it was difficult to decide if those walking around in woolen tartan kilts were cooler than festival goers in shorts and tee shirts.

The sound of bagpipes – sometimes low and mournful – filled the air as people filled the tents to hear about Scottish history, customs and ancient weaponry, to buy Scottish apparel and wares or to drink a glass of Guinness in the shade of the beer tent. 

Lyle Crawford Maryniac, dressed in his clan’s tartans, demonstrated the longbow with amazing accuracy. Men and boys stopped to try to pull the bow string back on a empty bow that had a “push and pull tension of 55 pounds. Although some can go has high as 120 pounds,” he said.

Kids were instructed in the proper way to fling an ax at a target while parents looked on. Men threw heavy stones and caber (think telephone poles) for distance to show off their strength. Little girls in tartan attire and black, laced, leather shoes competed in dances called the fling, the sword dance and the triubhas. 

Solo pipers competed, and 18 bagpipe and drum bands filling the air with a cacophony of sound. The Parade of Tartans was stepped off by a U.S. military guard in full uniform while the crowd stood at attention.

The Tribe of the Blue Rose drew a crowd to their tent, which was a replica of ancient digs. They showed off the kit of armor, weighing more than 70 pounds, that they wear during their re-enactment performance. 

The row of clan tents offered a meeting place, said Larry Kascht, the Wisconsin convener for the MacLaren clan. “This gives us an opportunity to tell people about our clan and customs. Clans are our community.”

Attendees came from near and far. People from Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, the far reaches of Wisconsin and of course Wauwatosa were there. Said one man, with that unmistakeable lyrical accent that said he was Scotch Irish, “I’m an American now. This is my first year to the Games. It’s a great place to be Scottish.”

Although many claimed to be Scottish on this day, some sheepishly admitted to other nationalities. But it didn’t matter. At the Games, we were all a wee bit Scottish.