NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The 139th Sacramento Valley Scottish Games & Festival returns to Woodland April 25 and 26.
Experience traditions of the Scottish Highlands in two days of Celtic music, dance and athletic competition, history, animals, art, clans and cuisine from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at the Yolo County Fairgrounds, 1125 East St.
The Sacramento Valley Scottish Games and Festival is the third-oldest Highland Games in the U.S. and the second largest in the Western states.
The Sacramento event is known as “the friendly games,” because it has a family atmosphere where everyone is welcome.
It draws professional athletes, musicians, drum majors and dancers from around the world, including competitors and performers from Scotland and Ireland.
Fourteen competitors from Northern Ireland will return to the Games in 2015. Most of them are drum majors. Sacramento hosts one of the largest Scottish drum major competitions in the United States.
In Highland Dance, the Sacramento Games will again feature the sanctioned Sacramento Valley Championship Competition on Saturday.
The first sanctioned Premiership Dancing Competition in the United States will take place on Sunday. It reflects a different style of dancing, and being sanctioned for the first time in the U.S. is a stellar accomplishment in the world of Highland Dancing
It wouldn’t be Scottish Highland Games without bagpipes, and they'll have several pipe-and- drum bands competing in four skill-level grades.
Sacramento’s own City of Sacramento Pipe Band marked its 25th Anniversary this year, and will compete in two grade levels. Details are online at www.SacramentoScotGames.org .
The non-stop musical entertainment includes Celtic rockers the Wicked Tinkers and the Angry Brians. For acoustic music, see Scottish folksinger Ed Miller and Tullamore, plus Scottish fiddlers, Celtic harps, and of course top-notch bagpipe and drum bands.
Also in Scottish tradition, Saturday night will feature a Ceilidh (pronounced “KAY-lee”), or evening party, featuring live entertainment and a catered dinner by Ludy’s Main Street BBQ and Catering. Tickets for the Ceilidh can be purchased separately for $20/adult or $12/children. For more information, please visit the Caledonian Club’s website at www.SacramentoScotGames.org .
Another special event is a drumming competition in honor of Scottish percussionist and former foothills resident Jimmy Brown, who played in many Games and enjoyed the Sacramento Games during his later years. The drumming award will be presented during Saturday’s closing ceremonies with the massed bands at 4:45 p.m.
British food, Celtic art and merchandise, huge Clydesdale horses from the Jack London Ranch, Highland cattle and other animals typical of Scotland round out the variety of fun. There’s even a seminar on fine Scotch single-malt whisky that includes tasting (and costs $25). Come see why the Sacramento Valley Scottish Games & Festival has been a permanent fixture here since 1877.
Discount tickets are available at www.SacramentoScotGames.org .
At-the-gate admission prices are: youth (8-17): $8 for one day, $11 for two; individuals (18-59), $17 for one day, $25 for two; seniors (65+), $12 for one day, $16 for twp. Parking is $5.
Active military personnel with I.D. and children under 8 are admitted free.