The California Central Coast’s very own Scottish Festival—returns to the beautiful Ventura County Fairgrounds in October. You can look forward to two solid days of Scottish fun and frivolity, games and gaiety and the tension of competition in these various venues:
Colorful Highland Dancers compete for prize money and trophies on the Amtrak Stage near the front entrance. Then, follow your ears for the Pipe and Drum Band Competition and don’t miss the colorful Drum Major Competition and the famous Scottish Fiddle Competition. We convinced the very talented Rebecca Lominky and Shauna Pickett-Gordon to oversee and to judge these talented musicians. There is more to come! The athletes compete for trophies and bragging rights.
After the Herding Dog demonstrations, shaggy Highland cattle are nearby and shaggy Scots, too, in a fun-for-all Bearded Scot Contest! A packed Children’s Glen will entertain the wee ones for as long as you will let them stay! Opening Ceremonies and Grand Parade not to be missed at noon sharp on Saturday and a meaningful Closing and Awards Ceremony near the end of Sunday’s festivities.
Four Entertainment Stages are alive with the best Celtic performers to be found anywhere. Perennial favorites, the Wood family known professionally as Celtic Spring headline their own stage. Sharing that stage are excellent family spinoffs Bows & Toes and Three for Joy among others. The centrally located Alex Beaton Stage will be home to long-time friends The Browne Sisters & George Cavanaugh and back “for the first time ever” Eric Rigler and Dirk Freymuth with a completely new acoustic bagpipe and guitar sound like none other! Lurking toward the extreme end of Clan Row, you cannot miss the sights and sounds of the Celtic Rock Stage anchored by heavy favorites The Angry Brians with lively local buddies, The Ploughboys! One more stop midway down Clan Row is a wee stage we call The Pavilion Stage and it will be hopping all day. Don’t miss our fabulous Harp Glen sponsored by the Clan Currie Society. Plus, you are likely to find the great Los Angeles Fifes and Drums anywhere on the grounds. Now, maybe time for some excellent Scottish and Irish food and bev, or shopping among unique and quality vendors or taking a class should you want to know more about Celtic cooking with The Celtic Caterer himself, Eric McBride, or history, the Gaelic language or Single Malt Scotch!
For further information see seaside-games.com or call John & Nellie at 818-886-4968
