First Highland Games and Celtic Festival for Oregon Coast This Weekend

Published 06/06/2011

(Newport, Oregon) – This weekend, June 10 – 12, brings the first inaugural Newport Celtic Festival & Highland Games to the central Oregon coast town, with two very unique contests that coincide with the more traditional highland games of feat and strength.

The Newport Anchor toss has a Celtic feel but is decidedly Newport-centric, connecting the community’s seafaring traditions with these types of games. The 65-pound anchor was actually a catch by a local fishermen, found after years in the ocean.

Grand prize for this event is $100 and it’s open to all game contestants.

The Clan MacLaren Challenge Caber is a traditional Scottish athletic event involving the tossing of a large wooden pole called a caber, similar to a telephone pole. Cabers at the regular games contests vary in length from 12 feet for novices and up to 18 feet in length and can easily weigh over 100 lbs. The point is not simply to throw it the farthest distance - but rather to have the bottom end of the caber land directly 180 degrees from the thrower.

This also yields a grand prize of $100.

Both the Newport Anchor and Clan MacLaren Caber Challenge are scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of the regular competition.

The Highland Games are open to both men and women with divisions ranging from novice to master. Those interested in being contestants can download the full package from newportcelticfestival.com. Advance entries must be postmarked by June 8, 2011, with day of games entries accepted as space allows.

A series of free Highland Games clinics are being offered by the Newport Rec Center. Clinics are held at 6 p.m. every Wednesday night before the event. Interested parties may contact Liam Hughes at the Rec Center or call 541-574-5453 for more info.

The games is also a cultural festival featuring authentic Celtic music, dance, food, drink, crafts, vendors, kids events and family histories. Other interesting activities are planned, like a golf scramble, tug-o-war, haggis eating, bonnie knees, whisky tasting, sandcastle contest and a kilted fun run on the beach.

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