Queen Mary’s ScotsFestival and Highland Games

Kilts, Kilts, Kilts, Lads and Ladies!

Travel is a great way to get a feel for other cultures, but there are options closer to home, like the Queen Mary’s ScotsFestival & International Highland Games. For one weekend a year Long Beach California becomes home to a boisterous celebration of Scottish food, dance, and athletics.

Queen Mary's Scotsfestival Dance CompetitionFashion, history, and accents are just the start of all the fun to be had. There were so many competitions to watch it was hard to know where to go next. The Queen Mary is a destination not to be missed on any visit to Southern California, being inside this magnificent ship to watch dancing competitions with live bagpipe accompaniment is epic. Outside in the sunshine men and women put themselves to the test in the Highland Games and I was equally captivated. These Scots have developed some sports you likely have never heard of, but man are they fun to watch!Highland games at the Queen Mary

Yes, the competitors are wearing kilts while they take part in nine feats of strength in these different events. Nine! Talk about endurance. They throw a number of different heavy items at varied weights, a stone, a Scottish hammer, a caber (the caber is a timber like a telephone pole at 15 to 23 feet long and weighing in at somewhere between 70 and 130 pounds), a sheaf toss (straw in a burlap sack tossed over a high bar with a pitchfork), and weights tossed for height and distance. They are wild to watch as men and women take their turns at each contest.

Highland Games at the Queen Mary weight throw

Seeing a 56lbs. weight hefted 12 feet in the air is addicting. Watching as round by round the bar goes higher and the crowd cheers the contestants was a highlight of the Highland Games. I honestly was surprised how addicting the games were as a spectator. I am not usually a fan of live sporting events, but this is one I will be looking forward to again next year. I will be better prepared though and carry an umbrella to keep off the sun so I can plan to spend more time watching the action.Sheep herding at ScotsFestival on the Queen Mary

The whole day was filled with fiddles, harps, drums, and bagpipes. If dancing and other human athletics are not your cup of tea there were animal displays to entertain you. Birds of prey, war horses, and a display of sheepherding were all options. As a dog lover and sheep enthusiast I had to see what goes into training a sheepherder. The intensity and concentration of these canines when they are working is clear. The information at all of the animal shows was great!

ScotsFestival Reenactment

Reenactors give the history a new dimension. They’re also interactive, and another opportunity for visitors to learn in a fun Q&A or through their demonstrations of crafting and daily life. All of the costumes and kilts running around brings to mind the Renaissance Faire. Modern items are available in the venders stalls and shoppers will enjoy the wares. The t-shirt “Sassy Lassie” caught my eye, but if you want to gear up to dress up this is the place.

What really stands out? Not the haggis, though like the Scottish sports it is an interesting invention. No, it is the people I met who came from all over the country, some from Scotland, their warmth, their love of the Scottish culture, and the enthusiasm they have for sharing it. You will want to add the Queen Mary’s ScotsFestival and Highland Games to your yearly calendar just like I am adding it to mine.

Find out about this event and others going on at the Queen Mary on their website –  Queenmary.com
Or on Social Media – FacebookTwitterInstagram

 

ScotsFestival at the Queen Mary Giveaway!

Kilts are not required, but are encouraged… Comment and Enter Below

The 25th ScotsFestival is taking place at the Queen Mary in Long Beach California this February 17-18 from 9am-6pm and we are giving away 4 General Admission Passes for opening day! Food, fun, and family activities are all on the agenda with live music, dancers, and the Scottish Highland Games. If your only connection to Scotland is Braveheart than this is the perfect opportunity to get an authentic feel for the culture and the history.

So what are the Scottish Highland Games? They consist of some activities you might be familiar with and others that might sound strange. Putting the Shot is similar to what we do in track and field today, but then the Scotts start throwing the interesting stuff. The Caber Toss – a large pole, The Hammer Throw – an actual sledgehammer, The Sheaf Toss – throwing a burlap bag of straw with a pitchfork. Who doesn’t want to check that out?

After watching the athletics you might want to put yourself to the test. ScotsFestival comes complete with a sixty-foot obstacle course FEAT OF STRENGTH. No joke. You can see where you stand after competing against your peers and rising to the challenge. I am for sure going to give it a try! For the little ones there is a whole section of kids activities to enjoy so everyone can get involved in the games.

There is plenty to see and hear with piping competitions, drums, dancing, and at night the Greyfriar’s Pub for live entertainment and a few cold pints. The athletic displays are more than just those involving pitchforks and sledgehammers. The dancers are there to compete as well with the Highland Fling, the Sword Dance, and the Scottish Lilt.

Food and other venders fill the rows of the Scottish Market offering traditional wares and tasty treats for visitors. You can take home your very own kilt or other authentic garb so when you come back again next year you are ready to rock it. Find out more at the Queen Mary site – Queenmary.com or on Social Media – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

So one more time – Enter here to win 4 General Admission Tickets for Saturday February 17th to the Queen Mary’s ScotsFestival in Long Beach California. Be sure you are close enough to travel to the Queen Mary before you enter!  Giveaway ends February 13th.

Leave a comment on the post and enter below!
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Chill at the Queen Mary, Long Beach Ca.

A Winter Wonderland in Southern California!

Chill at the Queen Mary is the United States’ first-ever Ice Adventure Park and it is a great way to enjoy the Holiday Season. With the beautiful Queen Mary ship lit for the Holidays in the background Chill is a lovely destination of lights and activities. There are any number of adventures to enjoy, from the sweet, to the bumpy, to the high flying, they have options for the whole family. Why not also enjoy some seasonal specialties of both food and drink to add to the experience.

The most obvious activity for an Ice Park is skating of course and that is the center piece of Chill. Included in the price of admission this will keep you busy as you skate from section to section. Skate through a giant igloo dome showing the Northern Lights, enjoy the live shows on the different stages along the path. You can hop off at the Swiss Chalet for a snack, or to take a break. A large portion of the park is accessably by foot or skate.

The next Winter classic that comes to mind is sledding. My favorite to enjoy is Chill’s tubing hill where you can race down next to your friends and family. If something milder or for the very little ones is more your speed check out a ride on the Worlds Largest Rocking Horse! If you get the Ultimate Expedition there are some more rides included or for an additional fee you can ride the bumper boats, take a turn around the speedway on a tricycle, or zipline in the park. Feeling creative? Try your hand at decorating a stocking or a gingerbread house. You can also take a break for the 4D Rudolph video on the actual ship theatre and get a look inside the Queen Mary.

The Park is broken up into different countries to offer an International flare to Chill. Germany, Holland, Switzerland, China, Russia, and the North Pole! Each offers their own activities, live performances, and seasonal treats. Pretzels, beer, and an authentic Alpine band in Germany. Shuffleboard on ice and vodka at the Palace Ice Bar which is kept frozen by keeping the room at freezing temperatures. China has dumplings, a winter favorite there, and the best shows! Acrobats, the costumed Lion Dance, and Shaolin Monks all take the stage in front of the Tea House where you can get a hot drink before sitting down to watch.

Chill at the Queen Mary runs now through January 7th 2018. A visit to the Ice Park is a lovely taste of winter with an International flare for locals or tourists. Expect to be at the park for the night if you are going to experience everything Chill has to offer. You can find out more about Chill at the Queen Mary on their site Queenmary.com or check it out on Social Media – FacebookTwitterInstagram