Experience the sensations of Scotland at the annual St. Louis Scottish Games

 (Here is how I turned in my West Newsmagazine preview for The St. Louis Scottish Games a few weeks ago.)

How ironic that this year’s St. Louis Scottish Games and Cultural Festival will sport the theme ‘The Games are Calling.’ After all, Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone and also worked on developments in hearing, was born in 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

But the event, held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Manchester’s Schroeder Park for the fourth consecutive year, will illicit far more senses than mere hearing aspects. The Games’ marketing guru, Board member and former participant, Bob Macauley, was adamant about driving home that point.

“You get every sense—wonderful visuals whether it be men and women doing great feats of strength, beautiful audio signs of pipes playing, and the wonderful smells of Scottish food,” he said. “It’s a festival!  It’s energetic! There’s always something going on that will pique your interest. Primarily, it’s a day of fun and frivolity.”

                    An athlete competes in the Caber toss. (Elaine Collins photo)

One of the main attractions is what’s referred to as Heavy Athletics. That’s where big, brawny guys and some strong women come out and do various strength events like the hammer throw and the caber toss, which is a wooden beam roughly the length of a telephone pole!

There will also be a big-time tug of war that features first responders such as the firefighters of Manchester.

“Speaking of strength, we also do something that is called the Stone Carry.  The bottom line is, the men and women pick up two 250-pound stones with their hands. Each stone is connected by a ring. Then they walk as far as they can. It’s amazing to watch! Last year, there was a guy who I think carried these two stones—a total of 500 pounds—about 93 feet! It is, another amazing display of strength, power, and balance! And some of the women do it, too. One of the women I think carried it 13 feet, beating some of the men. It just boggles the mind when you watch them do it! They have one hanging down toward the right leg and one down the left leg.” 

Those events are in line with a famous Gaelic saying: ‘Failin means yer playin.’ The translation is ‘It’s better to be doing badly than not taking part at all.’

West County EMS & Fire's tug-of-war team won out over Manchester Police in the annual tug-of-war competition. The team earned a trophy, and $1,000 was donated to The Backstoppers Inc. (Elaine Collins photo)

Another fan favorite is called The Legion of Honor. That’s where men come out in full armor with swords and axes, and partake in full, live combating.

Although specific musicians were not fully lined up as of press time, this year’s gala will be focused around local Scottish music entertainers. There will also be both individual and team (bag)piping competitions.

“We will have a children’s area where they get a chance to go into a cordoned off space, and pretend like they’re playing heavy athletics. Instead of throwing a 70- or 80-pound telephone pole, they just throw a Nerf item, and they have the most fun! Also, when the Legion of Honor is done with their act, they will pose for photographs with the kids, and families can come up so they can be part of the Legion of Honor, too.

“The kids will also get what’s called a passport. It is a printed piece that has squares where individual kids go to the roughly 20 clan tents based on our own Scottish last names. Each of the clan tent members usually have a stamp that features the clan shield. The kids get to walk around and collect those imprints. It’s a way to make sure the kids visit clan tents, and when they go there, many of the tents will be giving the kids candy or something memorable so they have something to go home with.”

That brings to mind another Gaelic saying, ‘Guid gear comes in sma’ bulk.’ That translates into the common saying, ‘Good things come in small packages.’

The St. Louis Legion of Honor combat arena at the Scottish Games. (Elaine Collins photo)

There’s Scottish food offered like meat pies and other traditional Scottish fare. Schlafly is the beer sponsor, and they typically make a Scottish ale available for event attendees. Meanwhile, the only activity still not finalized at the time was sheep herding.

“Our goal is to celebrate the history, the heritage, and the traditions of Scotland. By hosting the games, it allows us to bring in food, athletics, piping, music, and traditional Highland dancing, which is mostly young women but sometimes a young man will come out. Overall, it’s bringing Scottish culture out to the citizens of St. Louis and the surrounding area. It gives them an opportunity to spend the day in Scotland without traveling to Scotland.”

For ticket purchasing and other details, those interested can go to https://stlouis-scottishgames.com/.