Highland Games A Big Scottish Party

Some parts of Saturday’s Spokane Highland Games resemble a strong-man competition rather than a celebration of Scottish heritage. Such as heaving a 17- or 28-pound stone into the air, throwing a 22-pound hammer, or trying to heave a 56-pound weight over a high bar with only one hand.

Or how about the famed caber toss? The object of this event is to lift a log 13 to 17 feet long, weighing from 70 to 120 pounds and fling it end over end.

If sweat, grunts and popping muscles don’t exactly appeal to you, there are plenty of sedate events at the games, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds. There will be competitions in Highland dancing, drumming and bagpipes, demonstrations of Scottish country dancing and sheep dogs, and children’s games.

Food vendors will be on site, along with booths of Scottish Celtic gifts.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children aged 4-10, or $16 for a family ticket. Children under the age of 4 are free. Parking is free and overnight camping facilities are available.

An informal ceilidh, or Scottish party, will be held at the fairgrounds Friday at 7 p.m. The party is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to bring their own food and there will be music and dancing.

The event is sponsored by The Spokane Highland Games Association.