I just found about this festival. It begins tomorrow and looks like a good event, especially for those who like Celtic history, bagpipes and/or have families.

Related Posts & Pages from Pipeline:

• Large / Important Portland Events
• 75+ Portland Weekend Events & Parties | July 16-19

From Portland Highland Games website:

The Portland Highland Games are a fun, family-friendly event with Scottish Highland music, dancing, piping and drumming competition, athletics, and cultural activities. We invite you and your family to the 2009 Games.

According to tradition, Scottish Highland Games had their beginning when originated by the kings and chiefs of Scotland as a reasonable agreement method of choosing the best men at arms. Crude forms of the athletic events you see today were developed to test the constants for strength, stamina, accuracy and agility.

Schedule of events after the break…

The 2009 Portland Highland Games

2009 GAMES SCHEDULE AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Friday July 17, 2009 Piobaireachd Bagpipe Competition

7:30 pm

• Mt. Hood Community College Theater (Main Entrance on NE 257th Ave.)

Saturday July 18, 2009

8:00 am

• GATES OPEN!
• Individual Piping and Drumming Competition (Main Field)

8:30am

• Scottish Fiddling Workshop (Gym, Dance Studio)

9:00 am

• Intermediate and Premier Dance Competition (Eastside Main Field)
• Elite and Amateur Heavy Athletics Competition (Upper Athletic Field SW Corner)
• Clan Tents Open (Upper Athletic Field SE Corner)
• Children’s Activities Open (Upper Athletic Field)

9:30 am

• Beltaine, Celtic Music (Entertainment Stage/Upper Field)

10:00 am

• Genetic Genealogy with Emily Aulicino (Gym, Room 104)
• Border Collie Demonstration (Southeast End, Main Field)

10:15 am

• Cathy Speer, Celtic Music (Entertainment Stage/Upper Field)

10:30 am

• Broadsword Demonstration by Bailey’s Academy of Martial Arts (Upper Athletic Field, Clan Tent Area)

11:00 am

• Columbia-Pacific Scottish Fiddle Competition (Gym, Dance Studio)
• Rebecca Lomnicky and David Brewer, Scottish Fiddler & Highland Bagpiper Duo (Entertainment Stage/Upper Field)

11:30 am

• Border Collie Demonstration (Southeast End, Main Field)

NOON – WELCOMING CEREMONIES (Feature Stage/ Main Field)

• Master of Ceremonies - John W. Osburn, Lake Oswego, OR
• Guest Pipe Band – Portland Metro Pipe Band, Portland, OR
• Color Guard - Oregon State Adjutant General’s Select Honor Guard
• Parade of the Clans - Lead by Northwest Scots Guards & Scottish American Military Society
• National Anthems - Alma Lynn McDowell, Beaverton, OR
• Invocation - Rev Christopher Grewe, Savage Memorial Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR
• Lament - Colin MacKenzie, Lake Oswego, OR
• Greeting - Honorary British Consul, Andy MacRitchie, Lake Oswego, OR
• PHGA President’s Greeting - Marianna MacKenzie Day, Lake Oswego, OR
• MHCC President Greeting - Dr. John Sygielski, Gresham, OR
• Chieftain Greeting - John and Gail Lewis, Portland, OR

12:30 pm

• Scottish Country Dancing (Entertainment Stage/Upper Field)

12:45 pm

• Kilted Mile (Main Field, Track)

1:00 pm

• Introduction to Scottish Genealogy with Julie Kidd (Gym, Room 104)

1:15 pm

• Inverness Challenge Shield and City of Roses Challenge Highland Dancing Competitions (Feature Stage/Main Field)
• Presentation of Awards – Kilted Mile
• Presentation of Awards – Professional Piobaireachd
• Celtic Muse, Celtic Music (Entertainment Stage/Upper Field)

1:45 pm

• Primary, Beginner and Novice Highland Dance Competition (Eastside Main Field)

2:00 pm

• Pipe Band Competition (Main Field)
• Fiddlers’ Rally (Entertainment Stage/Upper Field)
• Border Collie Demonstration (Southeast End, Main Field)
• Broadsword Demonstration by Bailey’s Academy of Martial Arts (Upper Athletic Field, Clan Tent Area)

2:45 pm

• Rebecca Lomnicky and David Brewer, Scottish Fiddler & Highland Bagpiper Duo (Entertainment Stage/Upper Field)

3:00 pm

• Introduction to Scottish Genealogy with Julie Kidd (Gym, Room 104)

3:45 pm

• Cathy Speer, Celtic Music (Entertainment Stage/Upper Field)

4:30 pm

• Mac MacTarnahan Memorial Challenge Caber Toss (On Main Field)
• Beltaine, Celtic Music (Entertainment Stage/Upper Field)

5:30 pm

• CLOSING CEREMONIES
• Raffle Draw for a VACATION to Scotland and Europe! (Main Field)
• Massed Pipe Bands (Main Field)