Campus Prepares for Annual Highland Festival
It’s that time of year again — the Alma Highland Festival is right
around the corner, and Alma College is in full swing preparation mode.
Physical plant staff plan for the event year-round, says Bob Boyce,
physical plant director, but started major preparation about May 5,
cleaning residence hall rooms in anticipation of the visitors.
About 268 rooms on campus have been reserved for the May 24 and 25
event, says Tracy Howd, conferences associate. The guests will be
housed in North campus, Nisbet and Brazell Halls.
Physical
plant’s other tasks include setting up external water lines for various
vendors and booths, laying a wooden floor on the football field for the
dancers and helping the Festival committee fence off certain areas.
College faculty and staff are volunteering to work in the Festival
information booth. Those interested in volunteering can contact the
festival office at (989) 463-8979.
President Tracy, her husband Doug and other members of the executive
staff will march in the parade at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 24.
Junior Alyse Redman is just one of the Alma College students who will
be participating in the festivities. She will perform with the Glen
Erin Pipe Band, one of the 19 bands performing in the band competition
at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
“I’ve been attending the Highland Festival almost my whole life, and it
sparked my interest in playing the pipes,” she says. “The atmosphere is
my favorite part of the festival — it really feels like Scotland.”
The entertainment tent will be open Friday, May 23, from 7 p.m. to
midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m.
Mother Grove and Colin Adams Grant will perform all three days, and the
Chelsea House Orchestra will perform on Saturday.
There will be a NASCAR simulator on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
using Reed Sorenson’s car, #41. The simulator will be on
hydraulics, and the rider can choose from a variety of courses.
There is also a Ceilidh in Hamilton Commons on Saturday from 7 p.m. to
midnight, featuring entertainment by local groups Pat Bog and Hurry the
Jug, and Maidens IV.
“A Ceilidh is an informal Scottish party at which there is plenty of
food, drink and entertainment, often supplied by the party-goers
themselves,” says Festival President Jan Caputo. “Walk-ons for singing,
playing or story telling are welcome by registering with the emcee.”
A complete schedule of events can be found at the Highland Festival Web site.
Posted: Fri, May 2nd, 2008 at 8:04AM
