Kelso’s Highlander Festival

Highlander Festival

Wee bit o’ Scotland arrives Sept. 11-12

To celebrate its Scottish roots, the town of Kelso — founded in 1884 by Scotland native Peter Crawford, who made a homestead land claim on the east bank of the Cowlitz River in 1847— hosts an extravaganza one special weekend every fall. This year, on September 12-13, men and women will again don kilts and play bagpipes, toss tree trunks and boulders (to prove who is strongest), and dance the Highland Fling in Kelso’s Tam O’ Shanter Park. There’s a Kids’ Fun Run/Walk 5K road race at 7am Saturday, followed by the 9am Highland dance competition, silent auction and opening of the Highland games. At 10am, the parade begins, along with a flower show. Opening Ceremonies are at 12:30, with the Parade of Clans on the field. Scottish food and craft vendors, and much more. On Sunday, join the Kirkin’ of the Tartan worship service at 8am at Tam O’Shanter Park, and again at 10am at the Kelso Methodist Presbyterian Church, 206 Cowlitz Way.

Roots in a raft race

Kelso’s Highlander Festival began in 1962 as a summer event to replace the KonTiki raft races held on the Cowlitz River in earlier years. Ten years later, at the 1972 festival, a bagpipe band was featured, laying the groundwork for subsequent years. The Highland Games made their first appearance in 1976. Over the years, the Highlander Festival has expanded its features and grown in popularity, offering something for just about everyone.

Music both days

California’s ever-popular Wicked Tinkers will perform, combining the Australian didgeridoo and Bronze Age Irish horn with bagpipes and tribal drums to achieve their haunting, heart-pounding “Tribal Celtic” music.

The Men of Worth plays traditional Scottish folk music The duo traces their music’s history to their Scottish and Irish homelands. “We entertain people with the real music of our regions,” they have said in interviews and press releases. “We have an ancient yet fresh musical story to tell.”

Strength, stamina and agility

If you’ve never watched the competition at the Highland Games, you are missing out! The strength, stamina, accuracy

James Gorley, local athlete and Chieftan of Kelso’s 2013 Highland Games, competes in the Weight Throw, where a 42 to 56 pound metal ball on a chain is thrown like a discus. Courtesy photo and agility of both men and women will be tested by throwing the Braemer Stone, Scottish hammers, and cabers (“telephone poles”). The heavyweight games begin at 9 am on both Saturday and Sunday. Do you think you might be of Scottish heritage? Many of the Clan Tents have books with every name that can be traced back to Scotland. If you can’t find your name in one book, try another tent that has a bigger book!

For more info and schedule of events, visit www.kelso.gov/

visitors/highlander-festival Also see Kelso Highlander Festival ad, page 34.

Call before you go!

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