2013 Highland Games in Review
New Tent Hosts Represent Southwest Games
By Louise Turnbull
It has been just a year since Bill and Claudia Trimble talked Marty and I into being tent hosts for TCA in Arizona. We are ever so thankful that they sought us out, because this has been a truly remarkable experience for us.
We started out with absolutely nothing except some camping equipment, some sage advice from the Trimbles and many back copies of the Bullseye full of information we could pass on to others. It proved to be a little costly by the time we purchased a larger tent, an association banner, and a few pieces of tartan to accent our clothing. I made a banner to use in opening ceremonies and another for our tent showing Marty's genealogy going back to David Turnbull born 1760 in Torryburn, Fife, Scotland. As the year went by we pieced together books and maps and other informative information.
Top, Scott and Diana Turnbull of Pickens, SC have been on the move! This season of hosting TCA tents had a whirlwind beginning, literally. The first day of the Loch Norman games were washed out with sideways rain and surrounding tornadoes. But that didn’t dampened Scott and Diana’s enthusiasm. They made sure to set up for Sunday and had a great day of greeting and meeting people.
Left, Scott and Diana in the Turnbull Tent at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, NC. Far right, Scott poses with Sir James a large sheep doll complete with helmet and sword. Scott never sets up a tent without Sir James, named in memory of his great friend and former co-tent host, James Trimble. Scott and Diana aren’t finished with this year’s road show. They are hosting a tent at the Charleston, SC games Sept. 17. This will be the first time Turnbulls are represented at the SC games. Be sure to stop by and say hi!
As the mists rose over the foothills of Western Washington, the King County Fairgrounds in Enumclaw was transformed into a small portion of Scotland 78 Clans were represented, including the Turnbulls.
With an estimated attendance that exceeded 10,000, this year’s Saline Celtic Festival was a record breaker, according to Pat Littie, chairman of the Celtic Festival Committee. “This was our best year yet,” he said. “The weather was a major factor, it was beautiful.” The festival featured music from Scottish pipers and the Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic; mock Celtic battles; a Wee Folks Parade along with a variety of activities for children; and more than 20 merchant booths offering Celtic-themed products and food. “The most important part,” said Littie, “is that the crowds had a great time. It’s a festival for all ages. People came away with a great feeling, and that’s what it’s all about.”