MOUNT DORA, Fla. — A  group of volunteers is one of the main attractions at this weekend’s festival celebrating Scottish music, games, and festivities.

1. We’re just days away from the highly anticipated Mount Dora Scottish Highland Festival. One of the main attractions is performances by pipe major Joe McKie and his Pipes & Drums troupe.

2. Joe got into the bagpiping field years ago, when he heard a beautiful noise that he’ll never forget. “I was in the city and there was a parade that was going on two blocks over," he said. "And you could hear this pipe band. You couldn’t hear anything else in the parade and I thought, ‘Ya know, that’s pretty cool.’”

3. The Mount Dora Pipes & Drums is made up of all volunteers. They don’t have to be here. Their No. 1 rule is: “To have fun!”

4. The band has 38 performing pipers and drummers along with 11 members getting lessons. “When they come into this door tonight — as pipers, drummers, as the case may be — they leave a little bit better.”

5. The Mount Dora Scottish Highland Festival is this weekend, Feb. 14-16, at Donnelly Park. In addition to Pipes & Drums, the festival has highland athletics, Celtic music, dancing, a parade, and themed foods and drinks.