Participants in the Seaside Games travel from all the western states.
Southern California’s Seaside Highland Games – the premier Scottish festival on the Pacific Coast – will launch their 16th outing on October 13 & 14. Staged on the Ventura County Fairgrounds the venue is transformed into a virtual Scottish village of this or any age. Set on the Pacific shores, the festival is fortunate to enjoy the ocean breezes in virtually every year. And October it the optimal time to enjoy the ‘twixt’n tween” time between summer and fall.
Participants in the Seaside Games travel from all the western states to take part – Washington and Oregon to the north and Arizona, Utah and Nevada to the east. This year, because our honored clan will be Clan Graham Society of North America, we will be flooded with Grahams from all across this nation as well as our neighbors in Canada. There could be a new native Scots thrown into the mix as well!
The special guests this year will be the Honorable Ms Joni Smith, Scottish Counselor for North America from her Washington DC offices. And the World Champion Grade 3 pipe band …the Pasadena Scots!
On Friday night of games weekend there is the “A Scottish Evening”, which consists of a sumptuous buffet supper, great Scottish music and a Scottish fashion show! A Single Malt Tasting precedes the dinner with a dozen plus premium Scotch brands to taste!
Saturday brings the gala opening ceremonies and grand parade at noon in front of the Alex Beaton Stage. Clan names and mottoes will be called out by the Voice of the Seaside Games, Bill Graham, as clan members march by, interspersed with all the fine bagpipe and drum bands in attendance. A true color spectacle! Four stages of wonderful music will be playing continuously throughout the weekend, while nearby the Highland heavies, the braw Scottish athletes, will amaze you. The herding dogs demos will amuse and thrill you and the dancers of all ages will enthrall you! The St. Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles Harp Glen is an awesome stop and the World War II military encampment will teach you a thing or three about our tremendous history. Fine vendors, tasty Celtic food and drink when the need arises, and a precious Children’s Glen for the wee ones add to the amazing offerings.
Come to Seaside and see it all! October 13 and 14 on the Ventura County Fairgrounds! For more information [email protected] or call John and Nellie at 818-886-4968.
