Mother Lode Highland Games and Gathering

SCOTLAND is coming to Amador County with the inaugural Mother Lode Highland Games and Gathering. This two-day event is great for the whole family, from the young to the young at heart.

The Highland Games will have events such as: caber tossing (throwing what looks like a wooden telephone pole one end over the other), putting the stone (similar to shot put but with an irregular-shaped, 16-pound stone), weight for distance (a 56 pound weight thrown with one hand while keeping the feet within a very small area) and tossing the sheaf (picking up a bundle of straw with a pitchfork and tossing it over a bar).

If you are wanting to find your roots you can visit the Clan Village where there will be both Scottish and Irish Clans, many clans will be available to assist in that search.  They will have books and information on the various clans and where you might fit in and find those roots.

For the kids there will be a Children’s Glen with their own games, such as potato sack races, tug-of-war contests, they can even throw a mini caber.

During this weekend event one can hear Celtic music, bagpipes and entertainment.  The lineup of entertainers is The AnGry Brians, Black Irish, Golden Bough, Cooking With Turf, Michael Mullen a Trio of One, and Tempest.

For the animal lovers there will be Miniature Highland Cattle (or Coos as they’re called in Scotland), Sheep Dog Demonstrations along with other animal displays and demonstrations.  In the dog arena there will be deer hounds, border collies, along with several other breeds.

For those who have never tried Scottish foods come on out.  In our food court there will be fish and chips, pasties, meat pies and of course haggis (the Americanized version which is a “sausage of meat and oats along with some spices).

Those who like to watch the Highland Dance competition, the dancers will be on stage and competing.  We’ll also have Cape Breton Step Dancing, harpers & fiddlers, and much more.

And for those of you who like to shop you can visit the Village Marketplace where you will find 30 plus craft vendors, kilt makers/dealers, Scottish and Irish candies along with English Toffee, glassware, clothing, imports and much, much more.

Since Amador County is rich in viticulture the Games will offer wine seminars who will provide you with a greater understanding of the Shenandoah Valley and Fiddletown Appellations, characteristics of various varietals, wine styles along with much more.

Scotland with it’s long history in the distillation of Scotch (or malt as its called in Scotland) will offer whisky tasting seminars, providing a greater understanding of the history of whisky, it’s distillation process and the various characteristics of whisky varieties.

Last, but not least, will be the Living History Village where you may run into Mary Queen of Scots to weavers and craftsmen to Mountain Men. In the Living History Village one can also pan for gold, view the ore crusher and watch lumber being cut on the Gold Rush Era Sawmill. And, if you wish, you can have your tintype photo taken by an authentic tintype camera.