A highland fling with the Scots at Old Westbury Gardens

Experience some fun and games – Scottish style – when Old Westbury Gardens opens its glorious grounds to the 47th Annual Scottish Games this weekend. You certainly don't have to be Scottish to enjoy this annual event, on Saturday, Aug. 26, co-hosted by the Long Island Scottish Clan MacDuff.

With bagpipes, caber tossing and highland dancing among the many activities to watch or participate in, the Scottish Games is one of the highlights of the season at Old Westbury Gardens.

There’s plenty of action for young and old, including competitions, entertainment, and Scottish treats to enjoy. It is believed that the games were begun by the ancient highland chieftains to help them select the strongest men for their armies. Those ancient traditions remain alive today in the form of solo piping and drumming, dance, caber tossing, Putting the Stone, Putting the Sheaf, and arm wrestling competitions.

“This is one of the many events that seems to go particularly well with this backdrop of the gardens,” said Old Westbury Gardens spokesman Vince Kish. “The games are very enjoyable and fits especially well with the beauty of our gardens.”

The festival is a way to celebrate Scottish traditions and heritage on Long Island, which is the mission of the Clan McDuff. It’s one of many similar events held throughout the nation and internationally.

How the games began is unknown, since the tradition predates recorded history. The first modern games were held in 1819 at the Perthshire estate of Lord Gwydir in Scotland, and the games featured very similar events to today’s. “The games help to keep [Scottish] spirit alive,” said Andrew McDicken, past chief of the McDuff Clan and pipe major of the Golden Highlanders Pipe Band. Originally from Glasgow, McDicken now lives in Port Washington.

Old Westbury Gardens has been hosting Long Island’s Scottish Games since 1977. It is Old Westbury Garden’s biggest event of the year, according to Kish, drawing over 7,000 people annually. “The actual games themselves are a lot of fun,” Kish said, noting that the Caber Toss is among the most popular events. “It is the essence of the games.

It’s quite something to see these big, big guys trying toss the caber (think 16-foot long, 160 pound telephone pole) and then to see the real action when the 300 pound men in kilts get going who really know what they are doing.” Visitors who think they have what it takes to toss that caber are welcome to participate (after signing a safety waiver). Registration takes place in the morning; the competition is held in the afternoon.

A caber is a long, tapered pine pole or log. The “tosser” balances it vertically by holding the smaller end and then runs forward and tosses it so that it turns in the air with the larger end striking the ground first. Ideally, the pole strikes in a strictly vertical position, and the athletes are scored based on how closely the throw lands at a 12 o'clock position.

Putting The Stone is another popular event. It is similar to the traditional Olympic style shot put, but uses a large stone in which the weight varies. There are also different styles allowed, one of which requires the 20-26 pound stone (13 to 18 pounds for women) to be “putted” from a strictly standing position, known as the “Braemer Stone.” The other technique allows a run up to the toe board and is known as the “Open Stone.”. In this style the weight of the stone is 16 to 22 pounds for men and 8 to 12 pounds for women.

Another major competitive event is Tossing The Sheaf. It involves flinging a bale of hay over a horizontal pole with a large pitchfork. This traditional Scottish agricultural sport was originally contested at country fairs. Three chances are given to each competitor to cleanly go over the bar, without touching it. After all challengers have made their attempts, the bar is raised and all successful competitors move on to the new height. This continues until all but one athlete is eliminated.

There’s much more to the day than the competitions. The Clan MacDuff always provides lots of entertainment during this daylong festival. For many visitors, the music and the bands are the most memorable part of the day. The bagpipes, of course, provide a musical background throughout the day’s events.

The Clan Gordon Highlanders, the Siol na h’Eireann Pipe Band, and the Northport Pipe and Drum Band will entertain with performances all day long. Other performers include Christina Harrison, the Cameron Scottish Music Ensemble, and the popular Celtic rock band, MacTalla Mór, along with Irish step dancers and Highland dancers.

The kids will enjoy their own version of a Caber Toss, with light cabers (actually plastic tubes); sock, egg and spoon races; face painting; a petting zoo, with sheep, ducks, ponies, among other animals; a birds of prey demonstration, and many other activities. As if that is not enough, there is a display of antique British autos, dog agility demonstrations and exhibits by dog rescue groups for those dog lovers in attendance. “It’s really evolved into a family festival,” said McDicken. “It’s a fun day for everyone.

And to really get into the Scottish spirit, make sure to taste some of the Scottish foods available: fish and chips, Scottish pies, sausages, and haggis, among other tasty treats.

Don’t miss the grand opening ceremony, at 12 p.m., which features bagpipers marching down the North Lawn to start off the games. So bring a picnic lunch, and be prepared to spend the day.

Kish reminds everyone to take an opportunity to stroll through the gardens and visit Westbury House, which is open throughout the day. Despite the expected large attendance, Kish said there is plenty of parking for everyone. Additional parking is offered at Westbury High School, with shuttle bus service to the Gardens. “And bring a bag so you can stock up on Scottish items from one of the many vendors selling all sorts of Scottish wares,” Kish advises.”Chances are you’ll be walking away with something by the end of the day.”

Pajamarama!

Grab your Pjs and head to Long Island Children’s Museum for an end-of-summer pajama party. Celebrate the last few days of summer vacation and bid farewell to LICM’s traveling exhibit, Night Journeys: An Adventure in the World of Sleep and Dreams.

The afternoon allows children and parents to explore (and create) bedtime rituals they can use as they adjust back to school bedtimes. Everyone is encouraged to wear their favorite Pjs – even the grownups! Visitors are asked to bring a new pair of pajamas to the Museum that day, to be donated to the Pajama Program, a national non-profit organization that provides new pajamas and books to children in transitional housing.

Thursday, Aug. 26, noon- 4 p.m. Free with museum admission. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row., Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or  www.licm.org.