Edinboro's Highland Games and Scottish Heritage Festival Kicks Off

The fiddles came out for the first night of Edinboro's 23rd Annual Highland Games and Scottish Heritage Festival. For the second year, the event kicked off at Sprague Farms and Brew Works.

"It started out with harps playing at six o'clock and now we have fiddlers playing and then tiger maple string band will be playing on later on," said Tim Thompson, Festival Director.

A good crowd came out for the music tonight, but that wasn't all they were able to enjoy.

"We also have a single-malt scotch whiskey going on in one of the rooms inside and of course we have beer, food and fun in the other rooms as well," said Thompson.

On Friday and Saturday the majority of the events will be taking place on Edinboro Universities campus. Friday evening will feature a bonfire, music and the Calling of the Clans. Saturday is the main day of the festival's events.

"Saturday we have the competitions. We have the National Sottish Fiddle Championships, the National Scottish Harp Championships, we have the highland dance competition and the heavy athletics; the big guys throwing, flipping trees and throwing hammers, weights, stones and such. We have kids games and vendors and all types of Celtic goods."

Owner of Sprague Farms, Brian Sprague said this event is a great way to bring everyone together. "It kind of gives the connection to the community with the university and I think that's one of the best things about it." 

Events List: 

Friday, Sept. 9:

• Scottish & Celtic Harp Showcase, 3-6 p.m., First United Presbyterian Church of Edinboro, 4281 Route 6N
• Fiddle Workshop, 6 p.m., Frank G. Pogue Student Center, EU Campus
• Regional Scottish Fiddle Championships, 7 p.m., Frank G. Pogue Student Center
• Chelsea House Orchestra performance and dinner, 7 p.m., Riverside Inn, Cambridge Springs
• Lighting of the festival bonfire and Calling of the Clans, 8 p.m., lawns near the gazebo and Mallory Lake, EU Campus

Saturday, Sept. 10:

• Solo Bagpipe Competitions, 8:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m., McComb Fieldhouse Lawns
• U.S. National Scottish Fiddle- Junior, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Frank G. Pogue Student Center
• Highland Dance Competitions, 9 a.m., McComb Fieldhouse Gym
• U.S. National Scottish Harp Championships, 9-11:30 a.m., Frank G. Pogue Student Center
• Disc Golf Tournament, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., EU Campus
• Pro/Am Heavy Athletic Competitions, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., Lawns
• Scottish Vendors/ Gift Merchants/ Weaving, Scottish and American Foods, Paint Out!- Live Art, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., Lawns and Lots
• Opening Ceremonies and Massed Bands, 12:00 noon, Lawns
• Beer Tasting, 12 - 4 p.m., Lawns
• U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championships, 1-3 p.m., Pogue Student Center
• U.S. National Scottish Harp Championships, 1-3:30 p.m., Pogue Student Center 
• Highland Dance Competitions, 1- 3 p.m., McComb Fieldhouse
• Bagpipe Band Competitions, 2 - 4 p.m., Van Houten Dining Hall
• Closing Ceremony/ Massed Bands, 4:30 p.m., Lawns
• Ceilidh dinner and music, 6 to 10 p.m., Van Houten Dining Hall North, EU Campus 

Sunday, Sept. 11: 

• Chelsea House Orchestra Concert, 10:45 a.m., Edinboro United Methodist Church

For more information: http://www.edinboro.edu/events/highland-games/