In July 2026, the RCMP Pipes, Drums, and Dancers represented Canada and the RCMP at two events in Sweden: the Karlshamn Baltic Festival and the Eksjö International Tattoo. Members from the National Capital Region formed the core contingent and were joined by several pipers and drummers from RCMP bands in Halifax and Regina. In total, there were 42 members on the trip including pipers, drummers, dancers, and a colour party. Over thirteen days, we had 14 performances in 4 different towns.
International trips are an important part of what the band and dancers do. They provide an opportunity for us to act as ambassadors, contributing to enhancing international relationships and helping to put both some shine and a personal dimension to the Canadian “brand”. Bagpipes are not often heard in Sweden, and everywhere we went the crowds were very appreciative.
Trips like this also demonstrate the commitment of the band and dancers. The band is an all-volunteer organization; this is our hobby. For many of us, the trip was our summer vacation. And yet, in the town square in Eksjö, we stood shoulder-to-shoulder with professional military bands, as equals. We put on an excellent show and were complemented by tattoo organizers and other bands. A testament to the thousands of hours of hard work, individually and as a group, that it takes for us to prepare for events like these.
Karlshamn Baltic Festival
We started our tour in Karlshamn, a small town on the south coast of Sweden. Nestled in a bay on the Baltic Sea, it is a lovely spot. The Baltic Festival is one of the largest music festivals in Sweden and to say it is eclectic is an understatement.
The stages include street corners, a main stage in the town square, a waterfront stage, a small venue in the woods along the shoreline, and the streets of Karlshamn itself. The photo is from a park where we played for a Childrens’ Festival.
The festival is not defined by genre, and performers ranged across a diversity of music including hard rock, jazz, country, classical and, of course, our pipes, drums and dancers. There was also an international food fair, midway rides, a vintage car show, and more.
We had three performances in different locations around the town. We also paraded through town solo one evening, stopping along the way for the dancers to perform. The streets were lined with thousands of spectators. On our last day in Karlshamn, we joined four other marching bands, including a samba band, for a mini tattoo in the town square. We were the finale for that event and when done, we had many people stop to chat with band members and express their appreciation. That was very gratifying.
But there was time for some fun as well!
Exploring the beauty of Karlshamn was like stepping into another time. With the Baltic Sea as our backdrop for performing and parades, every dance felt magical. After our evening shows, the dancers especially loved strolling along the banks, taking in the sparkling water. One evening, a group of our band members even decided to take a dip! It is moments like these that make travelling together so special, bringing us closer together, not just as a band, but as family.
Eksjö International Tattoo
From Karlshamn, we headed north to Eksjö, a small town with centuries of association with the Swedish army. There is still an active army base. It is a bit like Petawawa here in Ontario – even the natural scenery of forests and lakes is similar. Except that Eksjö is much older: the old town features many wooden buildings from the late 1500s.
For hundreds of years, Eksjö was home to a cavalry unit of hussars. When the unit was disbanded in the 1920s, the Smålands Husarer volunteer group was formed to keep the traditions of the hussars alive. Given the RCMP’s cavalry roots, we were invited to visit the farm where the Smålands Husarer train.
Our colour party, both former members of the RCMP Musical Ride, took the opportunity to relive their horseback experiences.
The band performed for a surprisingly large crowd at the farm, and the Hussars put on a display of cavalry maneuvers. Afterwards, we joined them for dinner in a barn converted into a mess and banquet hall.
Before the tattoo started, we had three other performances. First was a parade through Eksjö, with stops for the dancers to perform and ending in the old town. The second was a parade and show in the nearby town of Sävsjö. On the opening day of the tattoo, we played a show in the town of Kisa, northeast of Eksjö.
One of our dancers has Swedish heritage. Before our trip, she found out that her family had come from Kisa, and knew that we would be performing there. Needless to say, she was very excited to be able to perform in this town that was part of her heritage. When people from Kisa heard her story, they were excited too!
The Eksjö International Tattoo was held in the town square, with the 19th century church providing the backdrop. It may not be as well known as some other tattoos, but it is an excellent, very well-organized event..
The tattoo ran four times, and we put on a 10-minute performance for each show. We also participated in the finale, with the pipers joining the other bands in a moving rendition of Arrival, an orchestral piece originally written by Abba. At the end the tattoo, we marched off last, appropriately to the “Maple Leaf Forever”.
In the Eksjö Tattoo, we performed beside the Honoured Academic Orchestra of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After the afternoon performance of the tattoo, they gathered for a group photo in the square. As they were finishing, we moved in behind them and several of our pipers began to play the Ukrainian national anthem as a gesture of friendship, solidarity, and respect. As the anthem rang out, the Ukrainian band members sang along. There was hardly a dry eye in the crowd. It was a beautiful reminder that music can bring people together, even across borders and cultures.
On the last night, instead of leaving the square and heading to our bus, we continued playing and marched down the main street of the old town. We stopped at an intersection about 200m from the square in front of a pub. The band struck up Auld Lang Syne, the dancers performed, and we were then invited into the pub for a round. It was a fitting end to our time performing in Sweden.
Reflections
Throughout the trip, our hosts took excellent care of us. In Karlshamn, we were billeted in a school converted into temporary accommodations for the festival. Organizers were very helpful, attending to our needs and coordinating performances. In Eksjö, we stayed in barracks on the base and had access to the cafeteria and messes. Personnel from the Swedish army were assigned to the band to act as liaison. They were excellent hosts, and one even gave us a walking tour of the old town.
There were many memorable experiences from the trip, but a few in particular stand out:
During our visit with the Smålands Husarer, some of us had a chance to ride their horses. Our flag bearers were CSM Elaine Maisonneuve and Sgt-at-Arms Marc Dureau. Both were in red serge and jumped at the opportunity to ride. A “few” years ago, Marc was in the Musical Ride. He was a little rusty but rode with such glee and joy. He had the time of his life! A few of the dancers also demonstrated some equestrian skills.
In Karlshamn, a woman grabbed our photographer’s arm, excited and emotional. She was from Ontario but had lived in Sweden for more than a decade. When she heard the pipes, she came running. The pipes were a sound from home. She was so happy to hear us, more so when she saw the uniforms and knew that we too were Canadians.
One of our dancers, Gillian, kept a diary throughout the trip, and adds some of her reflections on the experience.
The people of Karlshamn were very welcoming and intrigued by the presence of a Canadian pipe band. After our performances many onlookers would approach us to chat or ask questions. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the joy our music brings to others. And speaking on behalf of the dancers, nothing made our hearts soar more than seeing children in the crowd jumping with excitement to see us.
A significant highlight for us was our final performance of the tattoo. We had worked incredibly hard throughout the entire trip, pouring our hearts and souls into every show, but during that final performance, we truly let our passion shine. When the pipes struck up, I could feel the emotion behind every note, not only from our band, but from the audience as well. For those few moments on stage, we wanted to reach out and enchant everyone watching, showing the people of Eksjö just how much we appreciated being there.
To be a part of the RCMP Pipes, Drums and Dancers is such a privilege, and coming to be a part of this band is truly a gift. One of the greatest joys of the tattoo was meeting and preforming alongside the other bands and dancers. The friendships we formed made the experience even more meaningful.
A video of our show at the Tattoo can be seen here:
Videos of our performances at other events are available on our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@rcmppipesdrumsanddancers9740/featured
For more stories and photos, check us out at: https://www.facebook.com/RCMPpipesanddrums