On Memorial Day weekend I went to the Scottish Highland Games in Costa Mesa and it was true to the name. There were plenty of men and women in kilts, plenty of thick beer to chew on throughout the 100 degree day and…plenty of highland games. Also, the huge massed pipe and drum marching band at the beginning and end of the games.

The actual games include tossing an extremely heavy log (technically called a “caber”) end over end and trying to do it the farthest. Also, other feats of strength including pitchforking a huge hay bail up and over a bar that gets raised every time. And then of course tossing the hammer. Another huge weight up and over a bar.

YES, there are men and WOMEN athletes. I know, hard to tell with everyone in skirts…ha ha ha…. say it to their faces. There were some big boys and girls there let me tell you, lads!

Also there was a ton of vendors selling Scottish and Celtic clothing, gifts, music, food, and everything else a Highlander could possibly want or need.

But of course the crowd favorite, and MY favorite, was the music. There were individual pipe band competitions like this here with the judges standing right with the bands and in this case, The Nicholson Pipe and Drum Band going through several tunes and marches.

And of course, the massed pipe and drum band comprised of all the clans and their pipers! A REGAL spectacle LADS!

This is an annual event and really draws a big crowd over the holiday weekend. If you have any interest in Scottish heritage or the celtic traditions, go check this out. “Aye it’s hot out, butat leeesht it ain’t freezin.”…. As they say………