The (ASGF) has different branches
A Brief History
The Scottish American Society of South Florida, Inc. began in 1983 when a group of Scots and
Scottish Americans got together to put on a festival in Key Biscayne to introduce South Florida
to the rich culture of Scotland. After the success of that first Scottish Highland Games and Festival,
the group decided to incorporate as a not for profit organization. On August 2, 2010 the
Scottish American Society of South Florida was 27 years old.
The goals of the Society are twofold:
to showcase Scottish Culture which is so much a part of the United States’ history, and to utilize
some of the income from the Festival and other events for awarding scholarships for instruction in
Scottish music, language, Highland Dancing, as well as academic pursuits. These goals have not changed
in the past years.
The Festival moved from Key Biscayne in Miami-Dade County to Plantation in
Broward County, where the attendance has exceeded 8,000. By tradition, the Highland Festival is
usually held on the first Saturday in March. In 2006 through 2010 it was held at the
Fort Lauderdale Stadium & Event Site.
The Society is a 100% volunteer effort with no
paid staff or paid fundraisers and membership is open to all that have a desire to further the
traditions, history, and culture of Scotland. Meetings are held monthly and members, as well as
guests, are invited to attend.
In addition to the annual Highland Festival, several other events are
celebrated. The season usually starts in September with the fall ceilidh (Kay-lee; a Gaelic word for
celebration). This year the fall ceilidh is most likely to be in October. We are working on the actual
date and place. In November we remember Scotland’s patron saint, Saint Andrew, with a dinner dance
and normally in January there is the Robert Burns’ Supper in honor of Scotland’s great
poet who gave us Olde langsyne among other poems and melodies. Last year we added a golf scramble and
battle of the Pipe Band Bash.
In the past, March was the long established Highland Games and Festival.
This was in Plantation’s Heritage Park for several years, this year the Festival and Games are
held at the Fort Lauderdale Stadium & Event Site once again. This is the major undertaking for the
year.
All of these events are open to the public and are well attended, so join up and join in.
If you know of someone wishing to become a member just have him or her email Victor
at
victor@sassf.org
or click on
membership application on the
membership page of our website for a pdf file to be opened. If you do not have access to a computer, mail a request to:
SASSF Memberships
C/O Victor Swackhammer
5615 Forrest Street
Hollywood, FL. 33021-2744