The sound of bagpipes echoed off the Santa Catalinas last weekend during the 25th Annual Tucson Celtic Festival and Scottish Highland Games held at Rillito Raceway Park, 4502 N. First Ave.
Thousands of people attended the event, which featured dozens of vendors selling everything from Celtic medallions to swords, kilts and ancestry books.
In addition to shopping and eating, there was whisky tasting, rugby demonstrations and some serious competition in Celtic games and highland dance, said Asherah Caldwell. Caldwell is president of the Tucson Celtic Festival and Scottish Highland Games, which sponsors the event.
"We have over 70 athletes that are competing for international points," Caldwell said.
"We also have highland dance competition that is an internationally sanctioned event," Caldwell said.
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In one competition athletes toss a 56-pound weight over a bar that is 17 feet off the ground.
"Sounds easy enough, but it's quite a job," said Ryan Stewart, one of the competitors.
Female athletes including Heather MacDonald, who traveled from Los Angeles to compete, participated in the sheaf toss - competitors use a pitchforklike instrument to toss a 10-pound sack over a bar.
"I go to a lot of festivals, and Tucson is always a blast. Great atmosphere, good food, good people. It's a really well-run event," MacDonald said.
It takes a lot of effort and more than $100,000 to organize and host the festival.
"We work really, really, really hard all year to put this on," Caldwell said.
Contact photographer David Sanders at 573-4155 or dsanders@azstarnet.com
