The event known as the “friendly games” by people who organize it has a new home.
The 14th annual Kern County Scottish Society’s Bakersfield Gathering and Games are going to be at Bakersfield College on April 4.
The Scottish Gathering and Games at BC is an event that celebrates and preserves the culture.?The gathering and games are going to be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the Ceilidh, a party with music and dancing, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The games were moved to BC because, according to the society’s Web site, they had outgrown Stramler Park.
Chieftain Holly Davisson said, “More or less we were getting too big for the park.”
The decision to move the games was made by Davisson and Co-Marshall Jennifer Scott.
The Scottish Society had intended to make the move in 2010; nevertheless situations pushed them to make the move this year.
“The purpose of the games is to educate the community of the culture,” Davisson said.
“The marshal’s at the event will be Jennifer Scott and Gary Lockhart.”
There are going to be 15 different entertainment groups, 40 clans, 25 vendors, the Scottish Heavy Athletes, and about 5,000 plus visitors.
Davisson said, “Anyone who is interested in the culture of Scotland is welcome.”
With having the games at BC there will be more room for the “strong” men and women?in kilts to compete in the Scottish Heavy Athletic events?like the Caber Toss, Braemer Stone Put, Weight Throw, Beer Keg Toss and new this year, the Hammer Throw.
The musical groups that will be at the event are The Wicked Tinkers and Tempest?in addition to?Kern County’s Banshee in the Kitchen and High Ground. Pipe bands, conducted by the Tehachapi Mountain Pipes and Drums, will perform all the way through the event. The dancing groups will be Highland Fusion, White Heather, Caper Duck and the Black Gold Clog Dancers.
Tentative Schedule
CEILIDH STAGE
10:00 a.m.???
Banshee in the Kitchen
11:00 a.m.??
?Wicked Tinkers
12:30p.m.???
Banshee in the Kitchen
1:30 p.m.??
Wicked Tinkers
2:30p.m.??
Banshee in the Kitchen
3:30 p.m.
Wicked Tinkers
PARK STAGE
9:00 a.m.???
Tempest
10:00 a.m.???
High Ground
11:00 a.m.???
Tempest
12:45 p.m.???
1916
1:45 p.m.???
Tempest
2:45 p.m.???
1916