Contributed by Meg Voss
Scottish Highland Games
6/30/2018 - 8AM
The Alaskan Scottish Club
Alaska State Fairgrounds
2075 Glenn Hwy. Palmer
Tickets: $5-$60
This year, the Alaska Scottish Highland Games, presented by the Alaskan Scottish Club, is proud to be featuring six of the top women's elite throwers in the world! The 2018 Scottish Highland Games will be held on June 30th at the Alaska State Fairgrounds.
While the games have usually hosted male professional athletes, this year the professional ladies of the sport will put on a show for the crowd in Alaska. And with their credentials (including world-record holders), they will not disappoint! The women's group is comprised of Pacific Northwest Champions, US National Champions, North American Champions and even World Champions.
The elite class consists of:
Emily Burchett, Missouri
Jessica Bridenthal, Pennsylvania
Heather MacDonald, Arizona
Chrystal Rupert, Washington
Olivia Tyler, Texas
Adriane Wilson, South Carolina
In addition to watching men and women athletes compete in the caber toss, challenge stone, challenge caber, weight-over bar, Scottish hammers and the grueling farmer’s walk, four teams will compete in the very popular tug o’ war competitions.
This year’s Ceilidh (pronounced Kay-Lee) band, The Fire, will perform two shows on the mainstage. The Fire is a high energy pure-drop Scottish music band with world class fiddling in combination with bagpipes, guitar, bodhran, whistle, and bouzouki. The group members include Rebeca Lomnicky, an international fiddle champion, multi-instrumentalist, David Brewer of the popular Celtic band, Molly’s Revenge, and Adam Hendey on guitar and bouzouki (part of the mandolin family of instruments). Between their entertaining and informative stage banter, vast array of instrument combinations and extensive repertoire, including everything from soaring slow airs to intricately-arranged dance tunes, these charismatic performers will leave you on your feet with your hands together.
And more music will be enjoyed when the competitions begin for piping and drumming solos and bands. This year six bands will be competing. They include the Alaska Celtic Pipes and Drums, Anchorage Scottish Pipe Band, Crow Creek Pipes & Drums, Fairbanks Red Hackle Pipe Band, Ogden Legion Pipe Band and the Trinity Pipe Band.
New to the games this year is a genealogy workshop conducted by Laurence Overmire (held in Raven Hall). Laurence is the author of 11 books and has conducted extensive work in the United States tracing Scottish and other ancestral family lines. Laurence will inspire you to embark on a quest for ancestral heritage and guide you through the steps to get started.
Celtic dances performed by Scottish, Irish, and cloggers will take the stage throughout the day in the Celtic Village. An annual crowd favorite.
All the other activities and competitions that the community has come to enjoy will be at the games this year:
• Scotch tasting educational and regular sessions - tickets still available
• Food & craft vendors
• The Children’s events to include caber toss and stone/weight throws.
• Alaskan Scottish Club merchandise – shirts, glasses and short bread,
• Tall Tales – where you can win a ham!
• Shortbread Competition - See who has the yummiest short bread this year!
• The Highland Cow – Say hello and pet our shaggy friend!
• Birds of Prey – a traditional favorite in Highland Games
This year’s fundraising raffle has five prize packages donated by some of the club’s generous sponsors. Raffle tickets are still available for $20 each or six for $100. They can be purchased at Celtic Treasures or from Highland Games Committee members.
The prizes include:
• Two round-trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies
• Whittier Package, which includes a Major Marine Tours day trip for two, overnight stay at the Whittier Inn and a tunnel pass
• Two round-trip tickets on Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Denali
• Scots’ Ancestry Package to include a dagger, sporran from Celtic Treasures, ancestry DNA kit with semi-annual World Explorer Membership
• $250 gift card from Sadler’s Home Furnishings
Scotch Tasting: Must be 21+ to purchase and participate (available on Eventbrite)
• General Session, 2:00PM-4:30PM: $30 in advance, $40 at the door (If Not Sold Out)
• Educational Session, 1:00PM-2:00PM: $50 in advance, 60 at the door (If Not Sold Out)
Don't wait, tickets are limited, and this event sells out before the games!
Gates open at 8am with free public parking at the red gate. Camping is also available.
All games information, including purchasing your admission tickets can be found on www.alaskasocttish.org. Or save a few dollars by purchasing your admission tickets in advance on the website or in person at:
• Celtic Treasures in Anchorage (Scotch tasting session tickets can also be purchased here.)
• The Bookshelf in Eagle River
• Fireside Books in Palmer
Ticket Information: (If using credit card on Eventbrite, transaction fees do apply.)
• Family Pack of Tickets: $30 (ADVANCE ONLY - not sold at the gate) includes 2 adults and 2 children tickets
• Adults: $13 in advance, $15 at the gate
• Senior (55+) & Military Discount: $13
• Children (5-17): $5
