Oshawa International Festival

NOTE: The Oshawa Celtic Festival has now become the Oshawa International Festival . This is in keeping with the change of focus of the festival's music and dance. To learn more about the 2010 festival, click HERE.

If You’re Irish…

Several months ago I received an e-mail from the chair of the Oshawa Celtic Festival telling me that I should check out their site and then come to the festival. So, on a cloudy, cold September Saturday, Judi and packed our festival gear and headed out to Oshawa. We weren’t sure of the start time, so we arrived a little early. The festival was taking place at Oshawa’s Memorial Park, the same park that held the Oshawa Jazz and Blues Festival (Click HERE to view article). The organizers and exhibitors were busy setting up the site. On stage the sound crew was checking out the sound system. To pass some time, we walked around the festival area looking at the different exhibitors’ booths. There were plenty of products from “over ‘ome”! The food vendors were setting up and the smell of hamburgers and hotdogs hung in the crisp air. It was cold enough that many of the participants were wrapped in heavy coats or blankets. Soon people started arriving at the festival site and taking their place around the stage. As we got closer to the opening of festival, pipers were warming up behind the cenotaph. Finally, at the direction of the festival chair, the Legion 43 pipe band marched through the crowd and assembled in the area in front of the stage, opening ceremonies had just begun…

The Festival Begins…

As the band entered the area in front of the stage, they formed a circle around the Drum Major. In the formation, they played a number of haunting tunes. Once the Legion band was through, the Drum Major led them off away from the stage. It was now time for the official opening ceremonies. A number of dignitaries were on stage ready to be introduced. Each, in his or her turn, said a few words to the audience and then the festival chair welcomed everyone and declared the festival opened. The first entertainment was provided by Colleen Rintamaki. Colleen “won the prestigious SOBHD Adult World Highland Dancing Championship at the Cowal Highland Gathering 10 times!” This lady’s dancing was simply amazing. After her performance she brought some of her School of Dance students to the stage. A young protégé, dressed in a traditional Irish costume, was the next to perform. Then four young students accompanied Colleen on to the stage. They were of various ages and put on a great performance. The audience loved them. After that a young girl came to stage in a sailor’s outfit. Her dancing almost equaled Colleen’s, not as sophisticated, but full of energy. The final dancing duo performed a sword dance. The whole dance team had won the hearts of the audience, especially when they came to the stage for their final bow. Now it was time for the main stage...

Nothin Serious and More…

While the dancers were performing, the main stage was being set up for the next entertainers and they were “Nothin Serious”. The opening ceremonies and dancing had finished a little early so the leader of “Nothin Serious” decided to honour his contract with the festival and not let the band play until 2:00 pm. Instead he and a fellow band member regaled the audience jokes and stories. The audience loved it and even laughed at most of the jokes. Finally it was time to get “Serious” and the band started to play. The music was a combination of Irish, East Coast and contemporary. The band was scheduled for two sets. We stayed for most of the performance, but had to leave before it ended.

This was the Oshawa Celtic Festival’s second year and considering the weather (very cold) it was well attended and more importantly everyone enjoyed themselves. The festival was a two day affair with a performance by “Spirit of the West” at the GM Centre and the “Running of the Sheep” on one of the downtown streets! You can see a video of the sheep running on the festival’s website. The second day was, of course, at Oshawa’s Memorial Park and consisted of festival vendors and several performances throughout the afternoon and evening. As the mayor said in his opening comments, the Oshawa Downtown Action Committee, who organize this and other events should be very proud of themselves.

Oshawa Downtown Action Committee Annual General Meeting

It is now early December and the snow and cold has come to town, along with Santa. It is far from the days of the Running of the Sheep and theCeltic Festival. Last week I had a chance to revisit my memories of the Festival. I even got to meet the lady who presented the Running of the Sheep. Sylvia Forster is a Border Collie trainer who produces sheep and dog demonstrations across Ontario. I didn't realize it until we spoke, but I have seen her with dogs and sheep at both the Cobourg Highland Games (Click HERE to read article) and at the Port Hope Fall Fair (Click HERE to read article). There are photos of both Sylvia and her animals in each article. I was honoured to be asked to attend the Oshawa Downtown Action Committee’s Annual General Meeting and even more surprised when they gave me a Certificate recognizing our coverage of one of their event, the Oshawa Celtic Festival. Receiving the recognition was certainly great, but meeting and talking with all the volunteers and organizers was better. The enthusiasm exhibited in this group of people was impressive. It is no wonder that Oshawa won a Gold Award at the prestigious 2007 International Awards Competition for Liveable Communities. Municipalities who receive a gold award are recognized as being in the top 15% in sustainability and liveable communities’ practices world-wide. Oshawa also won third place in its population category of 75,001 – 200,000. Congratulations Oshawa, I am sure we will be back to one of your great events next year.

NOTE: This festival was not held in 2008 but is returning in 2010 as the Oshawa International Festival. Visit their website for further information.