Whether you take the high road or the low road isn’t important as long as the road leads to Altamont and the 29th annual Capital District Scottish Games this weekend.
Much more than an athletic competition, the Scottish Games is a full Celtic festival of arts, music, dance, tartans, history, food and fun hosted by the Champion Schenectady Pipe Band, an organization active in the Capital District since 1917.
The games have been a part of the region since 1939, but it wasn’t until 1977 that the Schenectady band took over the event, making it the success it’s today, said event publicity chairman Bob Gordon, adding that the games are the largest Celtic festival of art and competition in the Northeast.
The festival takes place Saturday, Sept. 2, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 3, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Altamont Fairgrounds.
Heading up activities, the Northeastern U.S. Highland Athletics Championships take place Saturday with amateur athletics scheduled for Sunday. Participating athletes will compete in throwing the caber, a piece of timber resembling a utility pole, or the sheaf, a burlap bag filed with 16 pounds of hay that is tossed over a bar using a pitch fork. Other events include throwing hammers and large stones for both distance and height.
For piping fans, The Eastern United States Pipe Band Association’s Grade two pipe and band competition highlights activities on Sunday. For traditional Celtic dance fans, the Capital District Country Dancers perform Saturday and the Braemar Highland dancers perform Sunday.
Featured musical performers this year include the traditional Brigadoons, as well as local favorites, the McKrells on Saturday and a taste of modern Celtic music by Mactalla Mor on Sunday. Canadian Celtic rock favorites Hunting McLeod and folk balladeer Colin Grant-Adams appear both days. In addition, writer and historian Rob Roy McGregor will again present `History of the Sword,` while the Scottish Military Association brings the past to life before your eyes both days.
For the wee ones, there are several activities including a chance to partake in a medieval fantasy defending castles against dragons and evil knights.
Other activities featured include a sheep dog competition, the bonniest knees contest, Celtic canine capers and exhibits by Scottish clans and societies.
In past years, massed bands performed only once at the conclusion of the festival. This year they will perform twice each day at noon and near closing.
`There is nothing quite like it,` Gordon said. `One lone piper on the formation’s right begins playing `Amazing Grace.` Then from the right, each column joins in until every piper is playing as one. Then the drums begin and finally another lone piper on the left finishes. It’s a crescendo of music that never fails to bring tears to people’s eyes.`
As always, vendors selling anything and everything Scottish will set up shop during the festivities. Visitors may browse among an enormous assortment of merchandise including kilts, sweaters, woolens, T-shirts, Celtic jewelry, and much more.
And of course there will be plenty of Scottish and American food and drink.
If all of this makes you want to go to Scotland, take notice. Raffle tickets to win a trip for two to Scotland will be on sale at the games. Also, the runner up in the raffle wins a trip for two to any Southwest Airlines destination.
`For the price of admission a family can’t go wrong,` Gordon said. `Everything is close together. Nothing is far from you, and something is always going on.`
Tickets to the games are $15 for Saturday and $10 for Sunday. Advanced tickets may be purchased at a reduced price at most Price Choppers.
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