© Suburban Journals of Chicago file  photo

Chicago—April, 2008—Be Scottish for a day this summer as the Illinois Saint Andrew Society (ISAS) presents the 22^nd Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games, June 20-21, 2008 at the Oak Brook Polo Grounds in Oak Brook, Illinois. ISAS, Illinois’ oldest charity, is proud to once again present their annual summer celebration with a dazzling array of events for the whole family, including:
a Champion Supreme Pipe Band competition; Highland Dance competition; Heavy Athletics U.S. Championship; Youth 5 v 5 Soccer Tournament; British Car Show; cultural exhibits; Scotch whisky tastings and seminars; live Celtic musical performances (both traditional and Celtic rock); Parade of Tartans; Kilted Mile Run/Walk; Raffle; Children’s crafts and activities; and a variety of attendee
contests such as the Shortbread, Knobbly Knees, Haggis Hurling and Haggis
Eating. Attendees can also enjoy traditional Scottish cuisine and drink, including a Tea Tent and the Celtic Marketplace, where a variety of unique Scottish and Celtic merchandise will be available for purchase.

“This is the largest and best Scottish festival in the Midwest,” said Gus Noble, President and CEO of the Society. “We pride ourselves on making families feel like they’ve been transported to Scotland for a weekend of fun while enjoying a unique opportunity to learn more about Scottish culture.”

The festival kicks off Friday, June 20 with exhibits and vendors open from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Friday highlights include: Highland Dance competition, Heavy Athletics Friday Night Fling, crowning of the 2008 Heather Queen and Court, new Whisky Live Tasting Tent featuring multiple whisky vendors and Whisky Live Seminar
Tent featuring general and master whisky classes. From 6:00-10:00 pm on the
Celtic rock stage, there will be a Ceilidh (pronounced Kay-Lee), a lively celebration of traditional and contemporary Celtic music, with musical artists Reilly, Searson and Tartanic.

The festival continues Saturday, June 21 from 8:00 am - 10:00 pm and features:  Piping and Drumming competitions, Heavy Athletics U.S. Open Championship, Highland Dance competition, Falconry, Genealogy seminars, and a variety of interactive children’s activities including mini golf, crafts and carnival attractions. Event attendee competitions include: British Car Show (pre-registration), a Haggis Hurling Contest for women only; a Knobbly Knees Kilt Contest for men only, Haggis Eating Contest and a Shortbread Contest. Celtic musical acts (Reilly, Searson and Tartanic) perform on the Celtic Rock Stage throughout the day and into the evening Ceilidh. New attractions on Saturday this year include an early morning Kilted Mile Run/Walk, Soccer 5 v 5 Youth Tournament (team pre-registration) and Dogs of Scotland seminars showcasing a variety of Scottish dog breeds.

The premiere event on Saturday, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, is the Heavy Athletics U.S. Open Championship, featuring traditional Scottish contests including the Caber Toss (flipping 20-foot, 140-pound tree trunk), the 22-pound Hammer Throw, the Sheaf Toss (flipping a bale of hay over a high bar) and the Clachnert (throwing
a 16-pound river stone). The Championship is sanctioned by the governing body of the North American Scottish Games Athletics.

The festivities culminate with the Closing Ceremonies and Massed Bands Show, a breath-taking spectacle of 1,000 bagpipers and drummers, all joined in performing several traditional musical selections including Amazing Grace.

Advance discounted tickets are now available online through June 1:

Friday only: $8 adults, $3 children, free parking

Saturday only: $13 adults, $6 children, $5 parking

Weekend Pass: $18

Patron Weekend Pass: $70.00 for both days, $55.00 for Saturday. Patron Ticket includes entry into the festival, and the VIP Tent with premier views of the Games’ attractions, complimentary food and beverage, Free Parking Pass for Saturday and merchandise coupon.

General Admission tickets purchased at the festival are an additional $2.00/Patron tickets are an additional $5.00. All tickets are non-refundable.

For more information, event schedules, competition registration forms or to purchase tickets, visit the Illinois Saint Andrew Society website at www.chicago-scots.org
or call (708) 447-5092.

ISAS would like to thank the following corporate sponsors: American Airlines, Disney, Guinness, Illinois Arts Council, Pepsi, Sterling Engineering, Midwest Generation and Whisky Live.

The Illinois Saint Andrew Society nourishes the Scottish identity through service, fellowship and the celebration of Scottish culture. Established in 1845, the Society is the oldest charity in Illinois and the largest Scottish organization in North America. As well as offering financial support for the promotion of Scottish Arts, the Illinois Saint Andrew Society offers a wide range of elder care services at our Scottish Home.

The Society hosts several annual events showcasing Scottish Arts, the largest being the Highland Games & Scottish Festival, a two-day event attracting over 10,000 people, held on the third weekend of June. In late October, the Society hosts the Scottish North American Leadership Conference to serve as an educational forum bringing together the leadership of the Scottish community to share views, ideas, experiences and best practice. Other annual events include the Kilted Classic Golf Tournament, held in September; the traditional Saint Andrews’ Day Dinner “The Feast of the Haggis,” known as the premier formal Scottish gala held in November; and the Robert Burns Supper, where Scots gather to celebrate the life and poetry of famous poet Robert Burns held in January.

© Suburban Journals of Chicago file  photo

© Suburban Journals of Chicago file  photo