Attendees swapped their summer shorts for kilts and hamburgers for haggis for the 60th Long Island Scottish Festival and Highland Games last Saturday.
Thousands gathered at Old Westbury Gardens to display their Celtic pride. The event has been held there for 20 years and is one of Long Island’s oldest traditions. Organizers had canceled the event for the past two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event’s aim is to inform the public about Scottish history and traditions. This is done through traditional entertainment, food and other activities.
Some performers included the Scottish band Albannach, Bangers and Mash, world champion Highland dancer Isla Higgins, New York Celtic Dancers and Irish step dancers from the Ciara Greene School of Irish Dance.
There were also animals for the children, which included a petting zoo, pony rides and a Scottish Dog Breed parade. For food, attendees had the choice of fish and chips, pies and sausage rolls.
The competitions featured caber toss, tossing the sheaf and putting the stone, children’s races, children’s caber toss and tug of war, shortbread contests and antique British autos.
In a 2010 survey, 5.4 million Americans reported having Scottish ancestry.
