T
he air was filled with the sound of bagpipes at the 44th Annual San Diego Scottish Highland Games and Gathering of the Clans the weekend of June 24-25. Located in the quaint hills of Vista, California. One of the smaller events in southern California, it provides a friends and family venue that can’t be beat.
Scottish culture filled the park during the two day festival, which featured a variety of activities and entertainment for guests of all ages: Sheepdog trials, Highland dancing, Scottish vendors, cuisine and beverages, bagpipe and drumming competitions, clan heritage tents, and hands-on children’s activities.
The festival’s popular beer garden–recognized by San Diego Magazine as the Best Beer Garden in North County–was a gathering place for attendees to sample flavorful beer varieties, while mingling with friends old and new.
Some highlights of the festival…
- Over 10,000 visitors
- Over forty clan booths.
- Athletic competition managed by the Scottish American Athletic Association, SAAA, with two world record attempts.
- Popular Celtic bands Wicked Tinkers, Highland Way, and Banshee in the Kitchen performed on two festival stages.
- United States Scottish Fiddle Champion, Mari Black.
- United State Western Highland Dance Champion, Beret Dernbach.
- Two 1-day USBCHA sanctioned Sheepdog Trials — Open & Nursery.
- Over 50 vendors.
The Clan Wallace Booth
The booth was visited by Wallace families from as far as Omaha, Nebraska and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Twelve signed the registry with two visitors interested in becoming involved with the Clan Wallace Society.
Contributed by Greg Wallace