The Seaside Highland Games will return to the California Coast and the City of Ventura on October 7, 8 & 9 for a Third Annual Festival of Scottish Culture and Celtic Fun !  In the two prior Festivals, the Seaside Games hosted nearly twenty thousand guests and expect that number to leap dramatically this year !  “We are looking to welcome fifteen thousand to the Park this October,” says Chief John Lowry.  Beautiful Seaside Park, the Ventura County Fairgrounds, is transformed into a full Scottish village with displays of every aspect of life in “Auld Scotia.”

Friday, October 7 will be a day packed with special events.  At 2 PM, members of the Scottish American Athletic Association (SAAA) will demonstrate some of their dramatic throws—of stones, weights & cabers—at their new Athletic Field on Lot B for press and photographers.  Public is admitted free of charge to enjoy this afternoon’s preparatory activities.  Later, beginning at 5 PM Friday, the Four Points Sheraton will host a Single Malt Scotch Tasting.  Come and test your palate with some of the best Scotland has to offer.  Then, at 6:30 PM the doors open for our aptly named “A Scottish Evening” event which will have you tucking into a fine buffet supper, listening to excellent live Scottish entertainment (by renowned musicians Alex Beaton and the Browne Sisters & George Cavanaugh) and enjoying a show of the latest Designer Scottish Fashions.  Mother/Daughter Fashion Coordinators, Lynda Graham Gould and Jamie Porter Sorenson will have some neat surprises in models and modes !

Activities on the Fairgrounds will begin even before gates open at 9 AM on Saturday.  So many Scottish Highland Dancers will compete that their stage just inside the front gates will be a-buzz all day both Saturday and Sunday.  More fun events have been added to the amazing Children’s Glen—which now has everything from an exotic critters petting zoo and children’s athletics to archaeology digs.  Scottish Country Dancers will be keeping a beat to live musicians in McBride Hall this year.  Some excellent Vendors will display all manner of goods to tempt you in Anacapa and San Miguel Halls and a wonderful entertainment venue in San Miguel—sponsored by KHAY 100.7 FM—will showcase Celtic Spring and Men of Worth.  A live broadcast with Dave Bradley will be featured on Saturday.

Alex and the Brownes will hold forth on the Pacific Surfliner Stage across from the Food Court where you may sample some of the finest in Celtic food and drink.  The wail of bagpipes will draw you to the Pipe and Drum Competitions through the Food Court onto Lot C.  Returning to Clan Row, you may continue toward the “Whisky Stage” occupied by Eric Rigler & his band Bad Haggis and Ventura’s very own Warren Casey with The Wicked Tinkers. 

Bydand Forever, the crack Gordon Highlander reenactors, and Drummond Ranch Herding Dog Demonstrations will occupy a very busy Morgan Arena at the end of Clan Row.  For an impressive massed bands demonstration, plan on attending the Opening Ceremonies & Grand Parade at noon on Saturday.  You are invited to attend a special inter-denominational Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans service at 9:30 AM on Sunday.  A Massing of ALL competition and guest bands will bring color and sound to both days of the Festival and the Massed Bands and Closing Ceremonies will round out the weekend Sunday at 4:30 PM.

For more information call Games Headquarters at 818-886-4968 or e-mail SeasideChief@aol.com      visit the website:  www.seaside-games.com