ACTIVITIES
The Scottish Fest and Highland Games prides itself in having plenty of activities to do and see for visitors of all ages.
We'll have some great activities in 2023! Sights, sounds, and activities include those below.
We'll have some great activities in 2023! Sights, sounds, and activities include those below.
Anvil Launch!!
• Every Scottish Fest since the beginning has started and ended with the boom of black powder and the billowing grey smoke of the infamous anvil launch.
• The Split-The-Pot anvil launch ends the festival and games. If the anvil lands nearest to your plate (paper, of course), you won! You split the pot with a local charity or service organization.
• Every Scottish Fest since the beginning has started and ended with the boom of black powder and the billowing grey smoke of the infamous anvil launch.
• The Split-The-Pot anvil launch ends the festival and games. If the anvil lands nearest to your plate (paper, of course), you won! You split the pot with a local charity or service organization.
The Anvil Launch is LOUD!
Please Note: The anvil will be launched at the end of Opening Ceremonies and near the end of the fest.
Children's Activities at Wee Scotland
- Clan Passport Game
- Coloring pages
- Decorate your own sword (limited supplies)
- Face Paint
- Haggis Toss
- Highland Golf
Gilded Thistle
Gilded Thistle is a non-profit volunteer traveling acting group of street performers who do an improvisation of life in a day with Mary Queen of Scots as she is just back from France. They perform children's knighting ceremonies for all those young and young at heart. Wonderful photo opportunities are created for all along with a magical time to meet Mary Queen of Scots. They will also roam about to visit with the clans and merchants, and helping at various activities about the festival.
Highland Cattle from Flashover Farm
2023 is Highland Cattle Hope's 10th year at the fest. Fest-goers have seen her grow up since she was a calf. Her own calves have joined her at previous fests.
Hope comes to us from her home at Flashover Farm.
Hope comes to us from her home at Flashover Farm.
Did you know:
The Highland cattle breed has been a part of the rugged remote Scottish Highlands for centuries. These cattle descended from the native cattle of Scotland and are named for the Highland region of Scotland.
The extremely harsh conditions encountered by the cattle created a process of natural selection, where only the fittest and most adaptable animals survived to carry on the breed. Improvement was made through selection alone; the Highland never had any introductions from other breeds.
Archaeological evidence of the breed goes back to the sixth century, with some written records existing from the twelfth century. The Highland Cattle Herd Book, first published in 1885, lists pedigrees since that time.
Originally there were two distinct classes of cattle:
1) The slightly smaller and usually black Kyloe, whose primary domain was the islands off the west coast of northern Scotland. The Kyloe name is due to their swimming across the straits (or kyloes) on their way to market on the mainland.
2) A larger animal, generally reddish in color, whose territory was the remote Highlands of Scotland.
Today both of these strains are regarded as one breed – Highland. In addition to red and black, yellow, dun, white, brindle and silver are also considered traditional colors.
Mature bulls can weigh around 1,500 to 1,800 lbs. Mature cows weigh around 900 to 1,200 lbs.
Read more general info about Highland cattle here and here.
The Highland cattle breed has been a part of the rugged remote Scottish Highlands for centuries. These cattle descended from the native cattle of Scotland and are named for the Highland region of Scotland.
The extremely harsh conditions encountered by the cattle created a process of natural selection, where only the fittest and most adaptable animals survived to carry on the breed. Improvement was made through selection alone; the Highland never had any introductions from other breeds.
Archaeological evidence of the breed goes back to the sixth century, with some written records existing from the twelfth century. The Highland Cattle Herd Book, first published in 1885, lists pedigrees since that time.
Originally there were two distinct classes of cattle:
1) The slightly smaller and usually black Kyloe, whose primary domain was the islands off the west coast of northern Scotland. The Kyloe name is due to their swimming across the straits (or kyloes) on their way to market on the mainland.
2) A larger animal, generally reddish in color, whose territory was the remote Highlands of Scotland.
Today both of these strains are regarded as one breed – Highland. In addition to red and black, yellow, dun, white, brindle and silver are also considered traditional colors.
Mature bulls can weigh around 1,500 to 1,800 lbs. Mature cows weigh around 900 to 1,200 lbs.
Read more general info about Highland cattle here and here.
Celtic Crafts
- Both traditional and modern crafts can be seen at this year's festival, including the Desert Fiber Arts Guild spinning and weaving.
Bonny Knees Contest
- Kilted men are known for turning a fine leg and showing off their knees. A blindfolded panel of women await the bravest of you to present your knees to be judged, bonny or boney in The Bonny Knees contest.
- Appreciative spectators cheer on their champions making sure to protect their identity as the judges skilled hands look for excellent bone structure, strength of calf, and skin texture. Whoever is chosen the Bonniest Knees receives the praise of the crowd and a wee special reward.
Haggis Eating Competition
- Haggis! It's what's for dinner.
- Located in Flying Anvil Pub.
Blackfeather Broadsword Academy
Blackfeather Broadsword Academy teaches Scottish Broadsword and British Military Saber in the Tri-Cities Washington. In 2017 the instructors of Blackbird Training Group decided to branch out and explore Historic European Marital Arts (HEMA) with the help of the Cateran Society. Once they received their instructor's certificates from the society, they formed Blackfeather Broadsword Academy. After joining the HEMA Alliance Blackfeather trained with various groups in the Pacific Northwest, making connections and cross-pollinating styles and information with like-minded sword fighters. In 2018, Blackfeather held exhibition fights between their members and talked to the visitors to the games about the club as their first introduction to the public. In 2019, they held their first Single-stick Tournament, the Sagebrish Skirmish, attended by regional HEMA groups from Portland and Vancouver Washington.
This year Blackfeather has invited members of HEMA clubs throughout the region to hold exhibition fights with our members and the members of the other clubs. Attending this year will be:
Blackfeather Broadsword Academy (Tri-Cities, WA)
Email the General Chair (info@prosserscottishfest.org) for more information on 2023 activities.
This year Blackfeather has invited members of HEMA clubs throughout the region to hold exhibition fights with our members and the members of the other clubs. Attending this year will be:
Blackfeather Broadsword Academy (Tri-Cities, WA)
- Everyone has thought about learning to sword fight. Make that thought a reality. We will cover Scottish Basket-hilted broadsword fighting and British military saber, as well as other martial weapons like English Single-stick, Sword and Buckler, Sword and Targe, Sword and Dagger, Dagger sparring, with forays into pole-arms and maybe the occasional "Lightsaber(TM)" class.
- Want to learn how to sword fight? Not like in the Olympics; you want to get Medieval with it? Then you have found the right place. We offer community, encouragement and the safety to practice in earnest. Our skills get put to use in every class as we are a spar heavy school.
- Explore with us the techniques that were taught by the Medieval, Renaissance and Early Modern swordmasters. Our class structures have something for everyone. Play fun games in single combat and as teams. Learn authentic sword arts via modern games, drills, and historic treatises. Test your skills during sparring matches. Participate in Tournaments. Our Club is where all ages and families can have fun, get fit together, and make new friends in an exciting and encouraging environment.
- Spokane’s oldest Historical European Martial Arts group. Historical European Martial Arts or HEMA is an umbrella term that encompasses many traditions and styles of martial arts originating in Europe that span from the Pankration of classical Greece to Bartitsu of the Victorian Era. At Iron Crown we practice Kunst des Fechtens, which translates roughly to “the Art of Fencing” or “the Art of Fighting,” and is a term that is applied to the Medieval and Renaissance martial arts practiced by German masters and their students from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Iron Crown focuses on KdF from Gemeynes Fechten and the Johannes Liechtenauer Tradition of the 14th through 16th centuries.
Email the General Chair (info@prosserscottishfest.org) for more information on 2023 activities.
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