Sean C. Morgan
The Fourth Annual Sweet Home Highland Games and Clan Gathering will begin Friday night with a concert by one of Scotland’s favorites Isla St. Clair with former personal piper to Queen Elizabeth Johne Spoore followed by Sweet Home’s favorite Red McWilliams.
Opening ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. with concerts beginning at about 7 p.m. at the Outdoor Events Center on Long Street.
Based on time and financial considerations, the festival was initially planned for just Saturday this year, but Patrick King, a documentary producer contacted festival founder Greg Downs, saying he wanted to come to the Sweet Home games.
He is bringing St. Clair and Spoore, who will perform Friday night. St. Clair is hugely popular in Scotland and at the larger games on the East Coast, Downs said.
McWilliams has played at each festival since it began three years ago. McWilliams met his wife at the first festival. McWilliams moved to Washington, they were married, and a year later they celebrated their wedding with Sweet Home.
McWilliams is “honorary chieftan of the games” this year.
Saturday morning, the games being with signups at 8 a.m. They will include events ranging from the caber toss to the stone throw. The Sweet Home stone weighs some 135 pounds.
The event will keep the Highland wrestling event it added last year, but the wrestling will just be for fun.
At least 20 persons are signed up already to compete in the games. Anyone else interested in competing may call Downs at 367-3487 before 8 p.m. or Bob Teter at 367-6421.
The Society for Creative Anachronisms (SCA) will have a much larger presence at the festival this year.
The SCA has had a tent and demonstrations the last couple of years. This will be a much larger, kingdomwide event.
The SCA will set up its medieval village on the south side of the arena, Downs said. “When you come through the gate, you can go modern or ancient.”
The SCA will have a weaver, coin maker and blacksmith on its site, along with demonstrations and competitions in heavy sword, rapier, battle axe throwing and archery.
The festival will have a few new vendors, including a coin maker on the modern side and Well-Done Illusions, which paints Celtic and fantasy art.
Demonstrations will range from sword fighting to Highland dress and bagpipes.
“It’s going to be different,” Downs said.
“I think the most notable change will be our entertainment,” Teter said. There is more music and entertainment than ever before.
It will all wrap with a ceilidh, a Highland-style party with beer, music and story-telling, Saturday night. The ceilidh will feature the band Cul An Ti.
What: Annual Celtic Festival
Where: Outdoor Events Center, 4001 Long St.
When: Concert, 6:30 p.m. Friday; Games and Clan Gathering, 8 a.m. Saturday
Information: Greg Downs, 367-3487; Bob Teter, 367-6421