At The Scottish Walk

The Scottish Walk parade is an early December, Alexandria, Virginia tradition we enjoy.  This historic, colonial American town with a rich Scottish heritage is one place where a kilt-wearing man fits right in!  Many (20? 30?) Scottish Clan organizations march in the parade, motley or dapper groups of 10 to 50 folks young and old, men and women, wearing their clan tartans and liberally dispersing holiday greetings.

Kilts, kilts everywhere!

Bagpipe bands and dog clubs (for example, 150 Scottish Terriers… with owners…walking down the street in one big tail-wagging (not the owners) pack as well as the Irish Wolfhound Club, the Greyhound Rescue Society, and about a dozen others), the Scottish Country Dancing club, various Celtic and Highland games organizations, a Renaissance troupe, a few school bands and a few wealthy Old Town residents driving their classic cars, all add a particularly Alexandria touch to the proceedings.

It has become our tradition after the parade (which we attend with my wife’s cousin and his significant other) to eat East Coast caught seafood at one of the many excellent restaurants in Old Town: often oysters, sometimes simply basic fish, of course French fries too, all washed down with an adequate Virginia micro-brew.  Then it’s antiquing and thrift-storing (where an eagle eyed, committed shopper can find lovely, often designer discards from residents of this well-to-do community) and finally home for tea or supper.

About literarylee

I sling words for a living. Always have, always will. Some have been interesting and fun; most not. These days, I write the fun words early in the morning before the adults are up and make me eat my Cream of Wheat.
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