Highland Games pass test

Friday, April 18, 2003 | 8:42 a.m.

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Freedom Park.

Tickets: $10; $8 for seniors and military; and $5 for students.

Information: 433-2637.

Despite a crowd of 3,000, scores of bagpipes and more kilts than you can throw a caber at, last year's Highland Games and Celtic gathering was merely a test.

"We needed some proof to prove that we could get an event going," said Thomas McIntyre, spokesman for Desert Highland Games Inc., a local board designed to bring annual Celtic festivals to Southern Nevada.

There were plenty of Scottish dancers, athletes, shepherd's pies, sausage rolls, tartans, clans and crowds at Freedom Park for the one-day festival. But was it enough?

Apparently so.

This year the Scottish American Athletic Association will sanction its games. The event was extended from one day to two (three if you include Friday's opening ceremonies and events) and roughly 20 clan tents will be open for Scots (or suspected Scots) curious about their genealogy.

"Everybody is looking for their family roots," McIntyre said. "Geneology as a whole is very popular, certainly with the advent of the Internet.

"Usually 30 percent of the population has some Celtic heritage."

In Las Vegas, McIntyre said, "I bet there's half a million."

Yet prior to Las Vegas Highland Games and Celtic Gathering, the local Celtic festival was held in conjunction with an annual Renaissance festival.

"We wanted to be more culturally strict in our heritage," McIntyre said. "Most states have at least two of these a year. Utah has about five, Denver has about six or seven. California has 200."

According to Cely Kazanowski, president of Las Vegas Highland Games and Celtic Gathering, "We're the only one within a six-hour radius."

This weekend's events include officiated competitions between bagpipe bands, drum and dance groups. Kilt measuring will take place. The Nevada tartan will be for sale.

A Celtic wedding will take place and a highland chieftan from the McTavish clan will attend. Music acts include the Wicked Tinkers, The Indulgers and vocal band Golden Bough.

"It was a one-day event last year and we had limited events and amateur sports," McIntyre said. "We have professional sports people coming in from as far away as Scotland."