The Lion Rampant flag flies during the 2022 Columbus Scottish Festival held at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds in Columbus, Indiana.
Even with the pipe bands, the sheepdog demonstrations, the whiskey tasting and the ever-mournful call of bagpipes, the Columbus Scottish Festival’s plaid, mad success rests partly in a nifty novelty that few other events can match.
The Highland Games. Specifically, the caber toss.
Listen to Mike Bostelman, the coordinator of the event unfolding rain or shine Saturday and Sunday at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds in Garden City.
“How often do you get to get to see big guys tossing telephone phones?” he asked.
A fair question in a state currently Feverish and hooping it up over a basketball toss or two.
Heavens to haggis, the caber toss with kilt-clad athletes often from all over the world, including the motherland, does indeed look like telephone tossing. In the days of yore, the games were used to select the strongest Scottish warriors for battle.
Bostelman said the athletic competition remains the biggest draw of the annual gathering that attracts 2,000 to 4,000 people from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and other locales for the weekend.
Columbus resident and Scottish native Fay Stewart launched the festival Aug. 14, 1992, at Clifty Park to share the culture, cuisine and more or her homeland. Last year, she participated by introducing the festival queen, though many would argue that she herself is quite the queen of the affair. (For those following the official record, though, Columbus resident Grace Hart has been crowned current festival queen).
“With the response people here have had to the Ethnic Expo (international festival) and the diversity of cultures, we just thought this (festival) was worth a try,” Stewart said when the event was announced. “Also, it’s interesting because Columbus is rather unique with Louisville, Indianapolis and Cincinnati being so close.”
At press time, the extended forecast called for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid- to upper-70s both days of the festival. That is especially significant because event organizers have battled heavy rains that have dampened attendance many years. But milder weather has boosted crowds.
“It’s supposed to be a beautiful weekend,” Bostelman said.
He is merely hoping for a bit of rain beforehand to keep the grounds from growing dusty and windblown.
More than 20 Highland dancers from several states, ranging from Michigan to Florida in the past, are slated to participate in competition that always has drawn its share of interest through the years.
“We’re actually one of the few Midwestern such competitions left,” Bostelman said.
In a new twist, there also will be a Scottish piano competition on Sunday.
On the music scene, three entertaining bands are on the schedule, with styles spanning from Celtic rock to Celtic folk. A number of these ensembles also have been big hits at Ethnic Expo in the past.
Plus, European cars will be displayed on the grounds, and there will be a Celtic market, Scottish food vendors, children’s activities, clan histories and more. Mayor Mary Ferdon will serve as grand marshal.
About the event
What: Annual Columbus Scottish Festival, with music, dance, food, whiskey tasting, pipe bands and more.
When: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds on County Road 200 South inn Garden City.
Information and tickets: scottishfestival.org.
