Tag: gathering

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Sherwood Park Highland Gathering expands to a weekend-long event

Sherwood Park Highland Gathering expands to a weekend-long event

The Sherwood Park Highland Gathering is back for 2022 and is bigger than ever.

This year, the festival has expanded from a single day to an entire weekend affair (July 23 and 24), complete with performances, highland dance competitions, and Scottish heavy games at Broadmoor Lake Park.

Strathcona County was home to the 2019 event after organisers moved it from its decades-old location in Fort Edmonton. According to vice president and co-founder of the Sherwood Park Highland Gathering, Roxanne Carr, attendance went from an average of 1,500 people in Edmonton to more than 5,000 in Sherwood Park.

“2019 was our first successful year, and then COVID shut us down – but we all knew that we would wait for a sunnier day, and those sunny days are this year, 2022. We’re excited to put this event on again,” said Carr.

The gathering kicks off July 22 with an evening whiskey tasting event. Following that, there will be two days of highland dance competitions, pipe and drum competitions, heavy games, Lexus Art in the Park, a marketplace, a kids’ zone, food trucks, beer gardens, and local talent. Haggis, of course, will be available at one of 10 food trucks at the event.

Also new this year is the involvement of the local business community; a “Paint the Town Tartan” program encourages businesses to don the plaid and provide Celtic-themed experiences to raise awareness of the gathering.

Some additional Saturday events include the Tartan Run, a 5km walk/run around Broadmoor Lake Park, and an evening Ceilidh with live entertainment.

Carr noted a doggy rest stop with treats and water will be on-site at the festival for people wanting to bring their pups to the park.

“We want the kids, the families, the dogs; bring them all!”

The Sherwood Park Highland Gathering is free to attend; some events, such as the whisky tasting, Ceilidh, and Tartan Run, are ticketed (paid) events. More details can be found here.

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Saskatchewan Highland Gathering and Celtic Festival – GlobalNews Events

The Saskatchewan Highland Gathering and Celtic Festival, also known as the Regina Highland Games, is on May 21st in Victoria Park, downtown Regina. It consists of competitions in solo bagpiping and drumming, pipe band events, highland dancing and Scottish heavy athletics. The festival is open to the public, starting at 9:00 a.m. and running until 8:00 p.m.

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Children’s Trust Fund observes Child Abuse Prevention Month, Activities, events around the state culminate in April 26 gathering at State Capitol

Children’s Trust Fund observes Child Abuse Prevention Month

Activities, events around the state culminate in April 26 gathering at State Capitol

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 2022

CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s Children’s Trust Fund is recognizing the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect with a month of activities that will culminate with an April 26 ceremony on the lawn of the State Capitol.

Activities and initiatives through Michigan this month will center on the symbolic blue and silver pinwheel of Prevent Child Abuse America, which serves as a visual representation that everyone plays a role in providing children with a bright future.

The mission of the Children’s Trust Fund to keep children safe and strengthen families across the state takes special significance each April for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

As the only statewide organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect, the work of the Children’s Trust Fund – which is within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) – supports local programs and services that touch all 83 Michigan counties.

“Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign in 2008,” said Suzanne Greenberg, executive director of the Children’s Trust Fund. “The pinwheels are a representation of child-like whimsy and lightheartedness as well as a vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities.”

The Power of the Pinwheel is the theme of this year’s pinwheel campaign. Through the 100-plus prevention partners of the Children’s Trust Fund and this year’s statewide partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, supporters of preventing child abuse are planting 50,000 pinwheels in hundreds of gardens throughout the state.

The 14th annual Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Day rally is 11 a.m. April 26 on the steps of the Michigan Capitol. Featured speakers this year include MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. The inaugural Inspire Award winner for volunteer service and commitment to preventing child abuse and neglect in Michigan will be presented to Sharon Barry of Barry County.

“We are thrilled that our new partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is giving us farther reach to expand and amplify our message for Child Abuse Prevention Month,” Greenberg said. “When we recognize that child abuse and neglect affect each of us and can unite under a common cause, we are giving hope to every child in our state and ensuring Michigan secures a stronger future.”

For information on the Children’s Trust Fund and Child Abuse Prevention Month, visit michigan.gov/ctf.

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About the Children’s Trust Fund

Created by the Michigan Legislature in 1982, the Children’s Trust Fund is Michigan’s only statewide nonprofit organization solely dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The Children’s Trust Fund serves as a voice for Michigan’s children and families and promotes their health, safety and welfare by funding effective local programs and services that prevent child abuse and neglect.