Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival

July 16-17, 2022

Monterey County Fair & Event Center
2004 Fairground Road
Monterey, CA, 93940
$25-35, montereyscotgames.com

Whether you come Saturday, Sunday, or both days, you're sure to have an exciting adventure when you hear the bagpipes, see the marching bands and watch arts and competitions such as the Caber Toss. Scottish festivals are unusual to those who've never been, but once you attend you get hooked on the culture, pride and even the Scottish plaids!

Subject to change:

• Parade of Clans 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.  Opening Ceremonies Saturday Only
• Solo Piping  and Drumming Competitions
• Athletic Events
• Historical Re-enactments
• Celtic Gift shops and food
• Celtic Crafts and Quest
• Highland Dance Competition
• Tempest
• Come Meet Her Majesty
• Scottish Kids' Games
• Sheep Dog Demonstration
• Seamus Kennedy
• Scottish Gaelic, The Language of our Ancestors | Irish Heroes and Villains of California | Ancestry & DNA: Beyond the Basics  | The British Isles in the North Sea World of the Vikings
• Biscuits with Her Majesty for youth
• Whisky Tasting Seminar for adults
• Chris Baldwin
• Pipe Band Competitions
• Caber Toss Competition
• Drum Major Classic
• Saturday Massed Bands on Parade
• Best Clan Award Presentation
• Country Dancing Demonstrations
• Sunday Grande Finale with Massed Pipe Bands on Parade

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 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. 

Food

Meat pies 
Jalapeno, Bacon, Mac and Cheese Pie, Mac and Cheese Pie, and Chicken Chili Verde Pie plus great favorites such as Steak and Mushroom Pie, Steak and Vegetables Pie, Shepherd's Pie, Lamb Curry Pie, and Sausage Rolls. British favorites from vendor Taste of Britain serving Fish and Chips, Corned Beef and Cabbage plus Kids Specials such as Chicken Tenders and Corn Dogs. Handmade English Toffee and Welsh Shortcakes.

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.

The Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival also features exciting Scottish heavy athletic competition caber toss, hammer and stone throw, weight for distance and height, and the sheaf toss.

Festival attendees will also enjoy researching their own family at the clan and Celtic association tents as they stroll through the Avenue of Clans. "Tartan" is cloth and most kilts are made of tartan. The tartan is one of the two important symbols of Scotland, along with the bagpipes. Each clan has a tartan, sometimes more than one member can be identified by the tartan they wear. In addition to clan and family tartans there are also tartans for districts and special organizations.

There are lots of fun interactive children's games activities such as a mini-Caber toss, pillow over the bar, mini braemar stone putt, Celtic craft projects and the popular Celtic Quest.

Many vendors at the Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival will offer tasty and British and Scottish food and drink, and unique Scottish, British and Irish crafts, jewelry, clothing, and music that will be enjoyed by all. There's always great shopping with authentic products imported from Scotland, Ireland and England and hand-made items with Celtic themes.

Whisky tasting seminar offers fine, single malt Scotch whisky but there will also be popular favorites such as Guinness beer.

Each year, the proceeds from the Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival benefit several local non-profit organizations in Monterey County.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.