Glasgow Lands Festival to celebrate the spirit of Scotland in 31st year

A scene from a previous year’s Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival.
Photo credit: Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival

NORTHAMPTON — The spirit of Scotland will once again take over Look Park for the 31st annual Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival on Saturday, July 18.

As the only festival of its kind in the state and the second largest in New England, the day-long rain-or-shine celebration offers attendees an immersive journey into Celtic culture through world-class music, heavy athletics and authentic traditions, according to organizers.

“It’s so rewarding, and every year we worry about so many things, but everything always comes together in the end, and the end result is that we have 5-6,000 people and there is something for everyone. It’s a family event,” festival Chairman Peter Langmore told Reminder Publishing.

The Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival was founded in 1994 at the Blanford Fairgrounds. Originally intended by its founding committee — which included Langmore — to be a one-time fundraiser to restore the historic White Church in Blanford, the event was so successful that it became an annual tradition that’s lasted over three decades.

The festival’s name honors the history of Blanford itself, which was originally settled in 1735 by Ulster Scots and known as “Glasgow Lands,” or “New Glasgow.” As the event grew, it moved to Stanley Park in Westfield in 1999 before finding its permanent home at Look Park in 2004. According to organizers, it has remained a premier celebration of Scottish arts, supporting local non-profits and providing scholarships for piping, drumming and dance students.

Festivities will kick off at 9 a.m., and the Ceilidh Tent will be the go-to spot for high-energy Celtic music, continuing all day until the event’s closing at 8:30 p.m. Headliners will include Glasgow-based Albannach, Pipe Dream, and Celtic-rock bands Seven Nations and Haggis x-1. The festival will also feature pop-up music performed by Young Folk and a performance by the Pioneer Valley Harpers Guild.

Grand opening ceremonies are set for 11:30 a.m. and will once again feature over 30 competing pipe bands and nearly 700 pipers and drummers. This year, the festival will once again host the EUSPBA Northeast Branch Amateur Drumming Championships. Also returning will be Irish Dance demonstrations from two local dance academies. Pipers will be featured in the event’s closing ceremony with their annual performance of ‘Amazing Grace.”

“At the closing ceremonies, it’s really, really exciting when those bands come out, and then they have the Pipers come out front, and they play ‘Amazing Grace.’ It’s very difficult to not get emotional and get a little teary listening to ‘Amazing Grace’ with those pipers,” said Langmore. “When they all play together, it is so amazing. It’s a wonderful tradition that we have.”

The festival will offer attendees more authentic Scottish heritage and family fun, including the Highland Games, where “tree-tossing giants” compete in traditional heavy athletics.

There will also be a Stone Lifting Try-It Station, where attendees of any age can challenge themselves by attempting to lift different weighted stones in a test of strength. One stone, all the way from Glasgow and weighing 266 pounds, will offer one of the toughest challenges at the festival. Plans are to secure a heavy stone from Blanford and have it on site at the festival as their very own version locally of the rock and cultural connection.

Langmore added that these “gentle giants” are deeply tied to Scottish culture and bring great entertainment for all attendees.

“They [these games] exist because, historically, the clans in Scotland; they fought, if you know enough about history. Each clan had a chief, so somebody had to fight for him and protect him. The one who would do the best in the ultimate strength test would become the chief’s protector,” said Langmore. “The athletes absolutely love Glasgow Lands. Everybody loves it.”

Attendees will also experience living history by exploring the historic Highlanders encampment, watching sheep herding demonstrations, and learning from the Weaver’s Guild of Springfield. For those looking to learn more about the Scottish ancestry or their own, onsite genealogists and clan representatives will be on site to help trace family trees.

Throughout the day, guests can enjoy the live shows while quenching their thirst at the Celtic Pub, which features local microbrews from New City Brewery, Wine and Mead. Another option will be a curated Whisky tasting presented by The Whisky Pirate. Tickets for this specific portion of the festival can be purchased at www.glasgowlands.org.

The food onsite will reflect a taste of Scotland, including a smorgasbord of authentic bridies, meat pies, scones and shortbread. According to organizers, a dedicated “Kids’ Corner” will offer a space for children for athletic games and access to the Look Park water spray park during the festival.

Funds raised during the event will support River Valley Counseling Center and the Forum House, a service of Viability Inc. The former provides vital mental health services to children and adults in Hampden County, while Forum House supports disabled and disadvantaged adults in Western Mass.

“I don’t think there are very many nonprofit organizations in this area who are able to donate $40,000 to $43,000 to other nonprofits,” Langmore said.

He added that it feels rewarding to give back to these community partners through the Scottish festival and said he hopes to see another great turnout for this year’s celebration.

“When I’m able to stand up there at closing ceremonies, and thank everybody, and then have those pipe bands play ‘Amazing Grace,’ that’s just rewarding,” Langmore said. “There’s so much going on that it’s hard to explain. You have to experience it.”

For more information on this year’s Glasgow Lands Festival, its history, or to purchase tickets, visit https://glasgowlands.org.