Entertainers Announced for the 52nd Annual Scottish Games and Celtic Festival

For Immediate Release

Publicity Contact: Wendy Brickman

Entertainers and more announced for the 52nd Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival to be held at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center to be held on August 3rd and 4th, 2019

Bringing the Fascinating Culture of Scotland, Ireland and England to the Monterey Peninsula!

June 2019. Monterey, CA. Advance tickets are on sale for the 52nd Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival (www.montereyscotgames.com/

Save the date and plan a visit to this unique Festival in Monterey! Travel to Scotland, Ireland and England without leaving the Monterey Peninsula. Bring the whole family and celebrate Scottish culture, traditions, competitions and entertainment. The 52nd Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival will be held at the beautiful Monterey County Fair & Event Center on August 3 and 4, 2019.

At a Glance

What: 52nd Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival

When: Saturday, August 3 and 4, 2019 from 9:00 am – 6:00 p.m.

Detailed daily schedule will be posted on www.montereyscotgames.com

Where: Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940

What: This very popular Celtic celebration brings the music, dance, food and athletic events of Scotland and Ireland to Monterey County. Featuring fun activities for the whole family, the Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival offers a variety of live Celtic entertainment with exciting massed pipe bands on parade, including many award-winning California-based pipe bands, plus talented Highland and Irish dancers, special entertainers, athletes, clans, kids games, whisky tasting, delicious food, great Celtic crafts, sheepdog herding and much more. In addition to traditional pipes and drums, dancing, and athletic competitions, the Games is a celebration full of demonstrations, performance and musical entertainment related to many aspects of Scottish and Gaelic culture. Dozens of kilted athletes, bagpipers and dancers will be back in Monterey entertaining Festival-goers who will enjoy experiencing and learning more about the fascinating Celtic culture.

On Saturday evening, August 3rd, “A Piping Hot Dinner and Ceilidh Party” will be held again this year at Britannia Arms, 444 Alvarado St. in Downtown Monterey, with bagpipe performances by a member of the award-winning Monterey Bay Pipe Band from 7 pm to 9 pm. People who attend the festival that day can bring in their programs or ticket stubs to receive 20% off their dinners on Saturday, August 3rd between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm.

Celtic entertainers at the Monterey Scottish Festival will include:

Seamus Kennedy:

Always a crowd-pleaser each year at the Festival! Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, has been entertaining audiences all over the United States for the past 32 years. With a ready wit and a vast store of songs, he travels from Alaska to Florida, performing for audiences ranging from Popes and presidents to bartenders and bricklayers, college students and kindergartners. www.seamuskennedy.com‎

Tempest:

Since forming in 1988, Tempest has delivered a globally-renowned hybrid of high-energy Folk Rock fusing Irish reels, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music elements. The last 30 plus years have seen the San Francisco Bay Area based act release seventeen critically acclaimed CDs and play more than 2,500 gigs. It’s also enjoyed an evolving line-up that’s enabled musicianship and creativity to rise with each new member. www.tempestmusic.com‎

Chris Baldwin:

Chris Baldwin will entertain Festival goers with his wide range of Celtic songs. With over 20 years of experience playing in pubs, clubs, and festivals, Chris Baldwin has become known for his high-energy, highly entertaining performances as a storyteller and folk singer. Specializing in Irish country music, including tunes such as “Irish Rover”, “Whiskey in the Jar”, and “Finnegan’s Wake”). he learned from the greats before him. Chris performs throughout the U.S. and South East Asia in a variety of settings, from concerts to colleges, festivals, clubs, private events, and singer/songwriter showcases, all of which testify to the appeal of his cheerful and entertaining musical style.

Bagpipe Solo and Band Competitions/Drumming Lesson

Watch as quality bands compete both at the band level and as individuals, sanctioned by WUSPBA (Western United States Pipe Band Association). Come and be serenaded by the skilled pipers and watch these talented musicians perform together in the mass bands. Currently, there will be at least 35 solo piping or drumming competitors and six pipe bands including Grade 3 Silicon Valley, Grade 4 Silicon Valley, Sacramento Firefighters and Wasatch & District from Utah; Grade 5 will feature the Kern County Pipe Band and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s office.

Piping judges will include Glen Thompson, Campbell Naismith and Aaron Shaw. Aaron will judge solo piping and is a member of the popular Wicked Tinkers). Davey McAdam will judge Drumming.

A Celtic drumming Lesson will also take place with award-winning Davey McAdam on Sunday at 10 am, open to any Festival attendee.

John Biggar, who provides interesting and knowledgeable commentary, will be the band announcer during their competition and the Chief Steward will be Dick Hackbert.

Participants and judges (when not competing or judging) are happy to answer questions about become a part of a fun Pipe Band or a solo performer who can play at weddings, funerals, parades and more.

Classic Drum Major Contest

Back by popular demand is the acclaimed “Classic Drum Major Contest” featuring world class Drum Majors. The Drum Majors parade the pipe band while showing off their thrilling skills for the honor of top Drum Major of the Monterey Games. This competition is sure to be enjoyable for all who attend.

Highland Dancing Competitions

This is one of the most competitive forms of dance anywhere in the world. The origins of these dances lie within the Scottish clansmen, who performed before and after battle. Watch the Sword Dance, performed over two sword blades, or the Highland Fling, said to be a dance of triumph at the end of a battle. See which of these exceptional dancers will win the battle! Hattie Brogan will be the judge.

Clans

Clans are kinship groups among the Scottish people and are generally identified with geographical areas originally controlled by their founders or an ancestral castle. Clans give a sense of shared identity and ancestral heritage to members. Most have their own tartan patterns, usually dating from the 19th century, which are often incorporated into kilts or other clothing. The Festival’s Clan Village is devoted to all things Scottish; histories, tartans, and a lively and informative social scene. For a firsthand look, visit these informative and friendly clan members in colorful booths in “Clan Village” and trace your own heritage. Bring the kids to enjoy the Clan passport activity.

Athletic Competitions

Traditionally, the Highland Games revolved around athletic and sports competitions. Through these competitions the king would select the finest athletes to be his personal guards and entourage. The games were also a way for clans to showcase their relative strength without actually having to go to war. Some of the implements used in the games were created as alternatives to traditional weapons when England forbid any Scotsman from bearing arms. Though other activities were always a part of the festivities, many today still consider Highland athletics to be what the games are all about—in short, that the athletics are the Games, and all the other activities are just entertainment. Regardless, it remains true that the athletic competitions are at least an integral part of the events and one—the caber toss—has come to almost symbolize the Highland Games.

Athletes come from far and wide come to compete (many locals compete too.) Events include: caber toss, weights for distance, weight over the bar, heavy hammer, open stone putt, braemar stone putt and sheaf toss.

Celtic Crafts and British Foods

The marketplace offers a great array of Celtic and Scottish goods ranging from pop culture gifts to the mystical past and everything in between. Be sure to walk through our marketplace on the way to the games, or through the halls of our displays and booths on the shady side of the grounds. Shop for swords, kilts, sweaters, jewelry, crafts and much more. Enjoy a variety of meat pies, bangers and mash, Welsh scones and cakes, roasted nuts and other delicious food. Off course, there is the popular Guinness beer and a full bar.

Start buying for your holiday and birthday gift list! Currently, the vendors include the Celtic Shoppe, Heather Glen Designs, A & A Company, Celtic Candies and Cakes, Murphy’s Mustard, Welsh Baker, Phoenix and Crow, CH Hutchinson, Brown’s English Toffee, Celtic Jackalope, Trail Blazing Nuts, Crown Fellowship and Off Kilter Kilts. Delicious food will be offered from Sunblest Foods (an array of meat pies!) and Taste of Britain.

Whisky Tasting events

Come enjoy one of Scotland’s greatest exports—fine, single malt Scotch Whisky. Our Whisky Tasting event will provide you with a greater understanding of the history, distillation process and various tasting characteristics of fine Whiskies. There are three single malt whisky tasting seminars to enjoy on Saturday at 12:30 pm and 2 pm and on Sunday at 2:30 pm.

Living History

The Festival presents historical re-enactment portraying life in 16th century Scotland. Performers will entertain and educate you though the medium of living history. On site again with outstanding demonstrations and lavish costumes and displays are the St. Andrews Society featuring Mary Queen of Scots and her court, Clan Galbraith, and the Sjórvaldar Vikings who preserve the history of the Viking era.

Lots of fun for the wee ones!

Children’s Glen and Clan Village

The Children’s Glen hosts a number of activities for the little ones. Children of all ages can participate in downsized, mini athletic events (such as the mini-caber toss, pillow over the bar, golf and braemar stone putt.) There will be Vaden Forge demos as well and educational talks by members of the Sjórvaldar Vikings. There are also a number of Celtic craft projects and the ever-popular Celtic Quest: hunting for various sites throughout the Festival and returning for a prize. There is also the Celtic Passport with prizes in the Clan Village.

Sheep Dog Herding

Watch as these intelligent and highly skilled dogs gently herd sheep and ducks, under their handlers every command. Introduced to livestock as puppies so they “imprint” on the animals, these smart dogs are always able to get their ducks in a row! Don’t miss this demonstration of instinct combined with careful training and guidance

Tickets: Advance Discount Presale Monterey Scottish Festival tickets are on sale at www.montereyscotgames.com. Tickets (regularly priced) will be available at the gate during both days of the Festival.

New This Year!! There is $2 off per ticket for orders of 10 or more of the same category.

Ticket Prices:

Adult One-Day - Presale [$15.00] - At Gate [$20.00]

Senior (65+) One-Day - Presale [$12.00] - At Gate [$15.00]

Military One-Day - Presale [$12.00] - At Gate [$15.00]

Child (9-15) One Day - Presale [$12.00] - At Gate [$15.00]

Adult Two-Day - Presale [$20.00] - At Gate [$30.00]

Senior (65+) Two-Day - Presale [$15.00] - At Gate [$20.00]

Military Two-Day - Presale [$15.00] - At Gate [$20.00]

Child (9-15) Two-Day - Presale [$15.00] - At Gate [$20.00]

Children 8 & under free

Also...Win Tickets with our 52^nd Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival Photo Contest!

For 2019, entrants are asked to submit one photo from their visit to the Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival over the past 3 years at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center. Entrants should email their submission to [email protected] no later than June 1, 2019. Submitted image should be a JPEG and sized within a maximum 1024 pixels in width and 768 pixels in height. A panel of judges will make decisions by July 1, 2019.

Three winners will receive a pair of tickets to the upcoming 52nd Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center to be held on August 3 and 4, 2019. The photos will be judged by the basic elements of a good photographic image, composition, exposure, subject interest, sharpness, and creativity. In addition, it will be evaluated for capturing the look and feel of the Festival, including excellent action/motion and multi-generational depiction. For any questions, call (831) 633-4444 or email [email protected].

Scholarship

A scholarship was given to Caitlin Davis who has helped for so many years with the Kids Games.

Here’s a quick glimpse of a past festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LMYEl8G2UY&feature=youtu.be

For more information about the festival, go to www.montereyscotgames.com or call 831-682-2022.