While you are in Halifax attending CASCA '99, why not treat yourself to an evening at the...
Nova Scotia International Tattoo
The Nova Scotia International Tattoo is an annual event in Halifax that features over two thousand musicians, gymnasts, actors, and armed forces personnel in a colourful and moving three-hour evening of music, marching bands, gymnastic displays, and pageantry. The Tattoo is normally held over a one-week period at the beginning of July, with regular evening performances at the Halifax Metro Centre supplemented by a variety of free noon-hour concerts held at parks throughout Halifax and Dartmouth. The Tattoo has been a Nova Scotia "tradition" for 19 years, and each year attracts thousands of visitors from around the world to what its organizers claim is the "best tattoo in the world." The mix of civilian and military performers is what makes the Nova Scotia Tattoo special relative to other such events. This year the Tattoo opens on June 29th with a special television taping session. The formal opening of regular evening performances is on June 30th, which is also the last day of meetings for CASCA '99.
The special "Tattoo Evening" that was part of the 1992 meeting of the Canadian Astronomical Society/Société Canadienne d'astronomie was one of the most memorable features of CASCA '92, one that is still recalled fondly by those in attendance. While we are unable to provide a similar event for CASCA '99, we encourage participants to make their own arrangements with the Halifax Metro Centre for seating for the 1999 event. For your convenience, we provide below a price schedule and seating plan for the 1999 Tattoo, along with the box office direct telephone number of 902-451-1221. The Metro Centre accepts most major credit cards. We would be happy to assist in whatever way we can, but suggest that most interested parties make their own arrangements. The added flexibility will allow you to fit a "Tattoo Evening" conveniently into your personal Nova Scotia vacation plans. A better selection of seats is also available to individuals than is possible with group blocks. Seating is also available at discount rates for seniors and children, as well as to members of the Canadian Automobile Association. The best seating, when available, is generally in the uppermost rows of the "lower bowl," sections 7 to 11 and 18 to 23 in the chart below. The best "sight lines" are found in sections 11, 18, and 19, but sections 9 and 10, as well as 20 to 22, are also good. For CASCA '92 we had reserved seats at the top of section 7. Often, only seating in the upper sections is available by the end of June.
In the event that a sizable contingent of CASCA members is present for the performance on the evening of June 30th, the Local Organizing Committee will try to arrange a formal welcome to attendees. For those who wish to continue their stay in Halifax until July 1st, don't forget about the special Parade of Pipers being held on Canada Day at 1:00 p.m. in downtown Halifax. Already there are over 4000 pipers scheduled to be in the parade, in addition to about 100 members of the Tattoo military bands. The Tattoo organizing committee hopes to set a record for the world's largest pipe parade that day. If you are bagpipe enthusiast, why not extend your stay in Halifax for a day in order to watch a new record being set? Are you a piper? Would you like to "help set the record" yourself? Contact the organizing committee at 902-420-1114 to volunteer, or check their web site at http://www.nstattoo.ca/.
