DELHI _ A celebration of the Scottish heritage of many Delhi area residents will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Delhi on June 20 and 21.
On Saturday, there will be entertainment, vendors and exhibits on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the church, followed by a traditional Scottish dinner at 6 p.m. at the Delhi American Legion.
Admission to the festival Saturday is $2 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Tickets for the dinner are $30 and must be purchased by Thursday at the church office, Stewart's Department Store, Delhi Paint & Paper or the Delaware County Historical Association.
On Sunday, the festival will continue at the church at 11 a.m. with a traditional Scottish worship service, followed by a Scottish coffee hour. The exhibits and vendors will continue through 3 p.m. Admission is free Sunday.
Nancy Thomson, chairwoman of the festival, said she is Scottish by marriage. She said her mother-in-law, Kitty Thomas, and Clara Stewart held Scottish festivals in 1999 and 2001 that were well attended, so she decided to revive the tradition.
"A lot of the original families that founded the church have their roots in Scotland," Thomson said Friday. "The records of the earlier festival were on file in the church. And last year, I began attending Scottish festivals to get contacts for our festival."
Throughout the day, there will be kilt-making demonstrations by "The Kiltmaker's Apprentice" and an opportunity to research traditional family tartans.
Scottish items being raffled off include a queen-size quilt made by the women of the church of the Flying Geese pattern in shades of thistle and a ceramic platter with a thistle design by sculptor Gordon Tyler Sr.
Entertainment on Saturday includes the Hobart Fire Department Pipes & Drums Band, the Glenmore Pipe Band, the Little Delaware Youth Ensemble and Scottish dancing with audience participation led by Sally Scrimshaw.
Scott Ian Barry will display his collection of historic swords and will perform dressed as "Rob Roy, The Swordsman." The Scottish dinner will feature a haggis ceremony performed by entertainer Ron Stewart, who is "Scottish through and through," according to Thomson. "There will be haggis available for sampling for those who are brave enough to try it."
Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish for which there are many recipes, but the ingredients generally include sheep heart, liver and lungs minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock and traditionally boiled inside the animal's stomach.
The actual dinner will be catered by Cross Roads Café and will include Scottish meat pies, tossed salad, clapshot (potatoes mashed with turnips), grilled cabbage, oat bread and a lemon tart.
The Celtic band Glenravel of Norwich will perform following dinner.
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