The annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games will be held at Hamilton Lakes on Friday June 15th, 2012 from 4 - 10 pm and on Saturday June 16th, 2012 from 8am - 9pm.  Look for the Cambrian booth on Saturday.

Activities include Highland Dance competitions, Rugby Sevens Highland challenge, Kilted Mile Run, British Car show, Haggis eating contest, Scotch whisky tastings and a Celtic marketplace.  It’s a lot of Celtic fun!  Come and see us there.  For more information go to the festival website at www.chicagoscots.org

at 744 Fair Oaks Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302, starting at 2:30 pm.  Doors open at 1:30 pm.

We are delighted to announce that Trefor Williams of Milwaukee will be our music director for this event.

Jane Barnes will be our soloist and Dianne McCarty will accompany on organ and piano.

Te bach will follow - afternoon tea with cakes and sandwiches.  All are invited.

There is no charge but donations are accepted and memorials may be made in memory of loved ones.  Contact Gwilym Williams, Barbara Jones or Sue Stealey to have names included in the program.

As always, we hope that you will invite friends and family to come along with you.  Bring Welsh hymnals if you have them*, for an afternoon of traditional song in which you are a key performer.   This is not a spectator sport!

*Music sheets will be provided for those who need them.

Contact Gwilym Williams (847) 991-0870, gwilym1@cs.com  with questions

Date: Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 

Time:  12 noon until 3pm
Location: Carleton Hotel
Street: 1110 Pleasant St
City/Town: Oak Park, IL 60302

Contact Info: Barbara Jones at 773-275-9789
Organized By: The Cambrian Benevolent Society of Chicago

Come and join us at noon to meet your friends and greet new folks; dinner will be at 12:30. There will be a raffle of interesting items and a Welsh dance performance with opportunities for audience participation.  Put on your dancing shoes!  Tickets are $28 for adults. 

If you would like an invitation please contact Barbara Jones at barbarajones7717@sbcglobal.net  or at the phone number listed above.

Carleton Hotel Oak Park
1110 Pleasant St
Oak Park, IL 60302

2007 St. David's Day Dinner

Since 2005 we have also decorated a smaller tree for the office of Maria Pappas at 118 N Clark St, Chicago.

Take a look at the photos from the 2006 tree decorating at MSI.

2006 Tree Decoration

2007 Annual Picnic

The Cambrian picnic was a highlight of the year for many of the Welsh families who settled in Chicago in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Since its inception in 1869 it has continued to provide good fellowship and good fun for the families who come and bring their picnic lunches and lawn chairs out for a summer afternoon in the park. In recent years it has most often been held in the parks of Oak Park but many years ago it was held in large purpose built parks as far apart as Evanston and Glenwood Park.

In those days most people traveled on the train as few families owned automobiles. Announcements for the picnic included train and street car information. Hundreds of people came out to try and win one of a number of prizes for athletic events. In 1911 there were so many children in attendance that twelve separate races and a high jump contest were arranged. No child was allowed to compete in more than one event. For the adults there were eleven categories of events and fine prizes for the successful competitors; a brooch or a cut glass piece for the ladies and a box of cigars or a pocket knife for the gentlemen.

Baseball and soccer teams competed for a cup which was retained by the organization after winning teams were dutifully recorded. (What has happened to that cup is a mystery. Does anyone know where it is?) Judges were appointed to oversee the competitions and physicians were in attendance to administer to any unfortunate casualties.

Modern picnics are not such elaborate affairs but we still enjoy getting together and having fun chatting and trying out our skills at ‘tea toss’ competitions and ‘shoe kick’ contests. Take a look at the photos from recent picnics held at Maple Park (2005) and Taylor Park (2007) in Oak Park.

2012 Welsh picnic will be held on TBA at Taylor Park in Oak Park from 11a.m. - 3p.m.  We will grill hot dogs and provide chips, condiments and ice cream (of course!).  There will lots of fun and frolics as usual.  So gather up the family and come and join us for a lazy summer afternoon in the sun (we hope). 

Taylor Park can be found at the intersection of Ridgeland and Division in Oak Park.  Our picnic site is at the northeast corner in our usual spot.  Hope to see you there!

  Questions?  Call Dilys Rana at (847) 251-3214 or Barbara Jones at (773) 275-9789

Annual Welsh Picnic — Taylor Park 2007 (view photos)
Annual Welsh Picnic — Maple Park 2005 (view photos)