Volunteers are needed to help with the Scottish Festival on July 5.
“It will take dozens of eager volunteers to stage our Highland Games this summer,” said Bob McMillan, vice-president and volunteer co-ordinator for the Penticton Scottish Festival.
Volunteers are needed to set up fencing in the competition field at King’s Park in Penticton on Friday night, as well as help with ticket sales at the gate, assist with the Celtic Kids Corner, heavy events, the Kilted Pig beverage garden and more during the one-day event, which runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The heavy events encompass a series of six feats of strength; the caber toss, stone put, Scottish hammer throw, weight throw, weight over the bar and sheaf toss.
“The Highland Games is returning to Penticton Saturday, July 5 under a new banner: The Penticton Scottish Festival. And you don’t have to be a burly Scotsman to sign up, as lifting the heavy weights and tossing the caber will be left to the attending competitors.”
Included with a gate pass two competition bands from the Simon Fraser Pipe Band will present a short concert of tunes during the games. They also will participate in the opening and closing massed bands. President of the Penticton Scottish Festival Society, Brian Johnston, said they are “something not to be missed.”
“It is going to be a great day for spectators as well as for the pipe bands from around the province who are attending,” he said. “Pipe bands will be competing for cash prizes and trophies at our highland games.”
The day of events includes a sheep dog demo, highland dancers, Irish dancers, Liz Lupton and the Fiddle Kids, folk singer Gord McLaren, a kids caber toss competition, Triskele Celtic Duo and Fiddling Friends, Kinship and the Malarkeys performing.
“There will be performances from a number of participating local music and dance groups, as well audience participation events for adults and children,” said Johnston.
In addition to an event T-shirt, volunteers will be given free admission to the park for the day to take in the sights and sounds of pipe bands, stock dog demonstrations, medieval sword battles, British cars and a day filled with Celtic cultural entertainment. Volunteers can sign up for shifts of three to four hours in a preferred area of interest by emailing pentictonscottishfestival@shaw.ca. The Penticton Scottish Festival will be an annual event held on the first Saturday in July in Penticton at Kings Park. For more info visit www.pentictonscottishfestival.ca