By Kerry J Newstead
CAYUGA—All things Scottish and Irish were on display for a day of fun in Cayuga at the Ruthven Park National Historic Site’s second annual Celtic Festival.
On September 14, 2024 Ruthven’s guests were treated to the sounds and sights of Celtic life. The Swallowtail Sisters, Eila and Nola O’Neil from Oakville, played traditional and not-so-traditional music. Both sisters are classically trained violinists, along with playing the fiddle and tenor ukulele for 10 years. Meanwhile, the SBJ Dance Studio provided some Scottish dance displays, with their youngest dancer being only four years old.
Reenactors recreated a Jacobite encampment and spoke of their history in Scotland. Tracy Gordon, 10-year member, and Stephen Ferguson, 15-year member, spoke with great knowledge of the lineage of the crown. Their society has about 20 members.
Throughout the day there were blacksmithing demonstrations. One could also visit Daisy and Molly from Evergreen Lane Farms, who are two of Mark Vanderwier’s Highland cows. You could also watch how wool was changed from raw material to thread to fabric by The Grand River Spinners and Weavers.
There were numerous vendors and artisans selling their wares, and some offered demonstrations of their craft.
Mackenzie Jones from Caledonia, a senior dancer with SBJ Dance Studios, dancing a Scottish lilt during the Celtic Festival. —Haldimand Press photos by Kerry J Newstead. 
Ina Muller of The Grand River Spinners and Weavers using a modern spinning wheel. 
The Caledonia Pipes and Drums in the ancient Caledonia tartan performing their last concert together: pipers James Williams, Frank Powers, Sam Edwards, Landon Italiano, and Jim Taylor with Cathy Powers and Peter Williams on drums (absent Aubrey Shole, student piper) 
Tia Ricker, son Hoss, and Doug Shirton from the Canboro Fire Department showing off one of many plates of perch and chips that they cooked throughout the day. 
The Swallowtail Sisters, Eila (left) and Nola O’Neil performing at the Celtic Festival. 
Mark Vanderwier and his daughter Reese with two of their Scottish Highland cows Daisy and Molly. 
Tracy Gordon and Stephen Ferguson dressed as Jacobites.
And if you were hungry, the Canboro Volunteer Fire Department was on hand cooking perch and chips.
Caledonia Pipes and Drums was on site performing their last engagement, with the Celtic Festival marking their 39th time playing together at various events.
Brittany Van Dalen, Site Administrator, was very pleased with the day.
“We surpassed our goal for online sales with over 200 tickets sold. We had 400 tickets sold at the gate,” she said.
Van Dalen is very grateful to all the people who attended and to all the vendors and artisans who participated, but in particular she is very proud of all the volunteers who helped to make this day so special.
Early plans have already started for next year’s event.
