On April 5th, all Kern County residents are proclaimed Scottish! Everyone is invited to come and join in the excitement of this unique cultural event brougth to life for the 13th year by the Kern County Scottish Society.
Nowhere else in Kern County will you see large men inkilts throwing telephone pole sized cabers along with a full set of Scottish Heavy Athletics! Equally exciting is the diversity of Celtic music from bagpipe bands to traditional and Celtic fusion rock. It's a concerta all day and even into the night. Learn about clan history, genealogy and Celtic merchandise at the KCSS Gathering & Games.
New to this year's Gathering & Games is our Chieftain for the Day - the Bakersfield Condors! Imagine the Condors' team and their mascot in sports kitls. The condors will MC at our noon time Opening Ceremonies complete with Pipe Bands, Clans and Jousters on horse back. They will roam our grounds in Condor jerseys andkilts. What a combination. They will assist the Games Marshals, Kenny Mounty and Jennifer Scott in greeting the more than 5000 attendees. Tehy may even try their hand at throwing a Caber with the Scottish Heavy Athletes.
Throughout Scottis history, Gathering & Games were crucial socially and politically for clans. Centered on athletic games, clans would gather to meet old friends and reestablish clan contacts while the clan chieftains met and discussed events of the day. This was also where the strongest and bravest men competed to show their ability to defend their clan. In the 1820s, Sir Walter Scott encouraged the formalization of annual Tartan and Highland cultural events. This cultural event is not limited to those of Scottish heritage. The Kern County Scottish Society welcomes all to this family orientated event, which happens to be the largest one day event in Kern County.
