The 45th Annual San Diego Scottish Highland Games gathers the clans and the public together for a weekend of fun at Brengle Terrace Park in Vista.
This morning I headed to the 45th Annual San Diego Scottish Highland Games and Gathering of the Clans. The big Southern California event is held every year in Vista, in San Diego’s North County, at Brengle Terrace Park.
This was my first visit to any sort of Scottish Highland Games, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.
What an absolutely amazing experience!
How can I adequately explain what I saw? When I arrived I quickly reviewed the thick program, put it in my jeans pocket and just wandered about. The many sights and sounds were almost more than my brain could absorb. There was laughter, smiles and good times in every direction. There were exciting athletic games, traditional Scottish music and, of course, tasty food. And lots of history and culture, too!
I’ll let my many photos do the talking. Read the captions to learn more. If you can, head to Brengle Terrace Park tomorrow, because the weekend event continues through Sunday!
The event attracts people from around Southern California. Visitors are immersed in Scotland’s unique and colorful culture.Dozens of Scottish clans participate in the yearly gathering. Their proud history is on display in many tents on the grass.These friendly Celtic beauty queens smiled for a photo at the information tent.Gentlemen in kilts enjoy their Scottish heritage and each other’s company.The Scottish Clan and Tartan Information Center had different tartans on display, many with ancient origins.The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society was present. I forgot to go watch the dancing in the park’s Recreation Center. I’ll remember next time!Sweeney’s was selling some Irish Soda Bread and Scones, freshly baked!These friendly ladies are the Sassenachs of San Diego. They are big Outlander fans and have a cool blog! Check it out at sass3journey.comMusicians performing on the Main Stage include The Ploughboys.Strong athletes compete on the Brengle Terrace Park’s baseball field. The Scottish Heavy Athletics include Weight Toss, Weight Throw, Hammer Throw, Braemar Stone and Caber Toss.Heaving a heavy stone as far as he can!The athletes talk and rest before each takes their turn.Another stone flies! The ancient sport–Braemer Stone Put–was used for challenges of strength by early Highland Chieftains.World Champion and multiple record holder Vern Alexander lets fly! Many champions are participating in the 2018 San Diego Scottish Highland Games.A seal at the Scottish American Athletic Association table. Strive for Perfection. Settle for Excellence.This guy was retrieving a hammer that he’d thrown far across the baseball field.Here comes another attempt at a record!Some of the hammer throws nearly went over the outfield fence!Not far away, someone checks out the tent of Clan MacLellan.The Scottish American Military Society was present for the annual gathering.I saw many maps of historical Scotland, some showing heraldic coats of arms.Many beautiful crafts bore images of Scotland and the Scottish people.Real men wear kilts! Instructions show how you can make your own Scottish style Great Kilt.A Scottish drum major practices on the field, with flags flying in the background.The 42nd Black Watch Color Guard is the official guard for the San Diego Scottish Highland Games.Gentleman at the Scottish Plant Badge Society tents answers the question of a curious visitor.Different native plants are used by the Scottish clans as badges, or emblems.Some rousing entertainment draws an audience to the stage inside the beer garden.Lots of Scottish food could be enjoyed, including authentic meat pies.Two gents stride across the grass to another area of the park, where pipe bands, drummers and bagpipers compete.Different age groups compete in solo piping, drumming, and drum major for trophies.Someone stands in the distance practicing. The distinctive sound of bagpipes could be heard all around the park!The House of Scotland Pipe Band from Balboa Park joined many other groups from around Southern California for the annual competition. (I love it when they perform at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.)Good times everywhere I turn!A small group practices on the green.This larger group has just finished their practice up on the hillside.Elsewhere in Brengle Terrace Park, people were watching Sheep Dog Trials!A shepherd uses a whistle to command a sheep dog to herd four sheep.People sit on the grass and watch the fascinating herding competition. Some dogs were really good; others seemed a bit confused.Four sheep are successfully directed into a pen!Back at the athletics competition, I saw men attempting to toss a 42 pound weight over a pole vault bar, and women doing the Sheaf Toss over a bar with a pitchfork.A female contestant readies to toss the sheaf with a pitchfork.Another lets fly!This tough looking guy is going to try to fling that heavy weight over a bar high above him.I don’t recall if this guy made it!As women compete in the Braemer Stone Put, the Caber Toss competition is beginning!Those big wood poles are called cabers. They’re tossed with the objective of flipping them end-over-end, landing as straight as possible.That looks super heavy. One guy went backwards when he lost his balance.A caber goes flying. I saw one successful flip, but I don’t recall which photo shows it.Guys retrieve the heavy caber after an attempt on the baseball field.There goes another caber!A young generation of Scots keeps history alive at the San Diego Scottish Highland Games.Good memories, conversation and fellowship.Drummer for the Wicked Tinkers gets the crowd enthused as he works his way through the beer garden.A wonderful time is had at the 45th Annual San Diego Scottish Highland Games.
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A little before noon, I enjoyed a fine walk through the Gaslamp Quarter, mostly down Fifth Avenue.
A lot of people were about for a late Saturday morning. So many exciting events going on today.
The World Cup. Taste of the Gaslamp. The Etsy market at Horton Plaza Park. People out on a walking tour, learning about the Gaslamp’s extraordinary old buildings and lively history. And the tourists, the workers, and downtown residents like me.
Enjoy this small slice of life in San Diego.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Linda Belcher of Bob’s Burgers is having a good time among lots of hamburgers.
Here’s another tasty helping of 2018 Comic-Con goodness!
I finally got close-up photos of the Bob’s Burgers wrap on a San Diego trolley. It’s been out there for a few days now, but I was lucky today and encountered it at a Green Line station on my way home!
That makes four different FOX television shows promoted on trolleys this year. At this point, it doesn’t appear to me that ABC will be represented, as they have been in years past.
According to the San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog, there’s an eighth trolley wrap out there as of today waiting to be photographed–one that promotes Conan O’Brien on TBS. He’s bringing his talk show to Comic-Con once again for 2018! I believe he’ll be at the Spreckels Theatre.
I’ll have to go search for that new Conan wrap tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
(For my blog followers who aren’t really into Comic-Con: fear not! I’ll endeavor to photograph some other fun things around San Diego in the days ahead!)
A colorful Bob’s Burgers trolley wrap during 2018 San Diego Comic-Con promotes the funny animated show on FOX.Bob Belcher seems a bit overwhelmed by the avalanche of burgers, however.
UPDATE!
Here’s another Bob’s Burgers trolley wrap that I spotted!
Teddy chomps on a hamburger.Louise Belcher and Kuchi Kopi on a San Diego Comic-Con trolley wrap.
UPDATE!
And here’s a third!
Tina Belcher on her back in hamburgers.Gene Belcher on his stomach in hamburgers.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
The Rockademy performs on the main stage at 2018 Fiesta del Sol in Solana Beach.
Today I rode the Coaster train from downtown San Diego up to Solana Beach to experience the annual Fiesta del Sol street festival!
I’d never been to Fiesta del Sol, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. What I found was a lot of family fun, live music, a tasty chicken quesadilla, and a perfect bench overlooking the event where I could read and gaze out at the beach and Pacific Ocean!
This cool event continues through the weekend. You’ll find it just off the Pacific Coast Highway, right next to Fletcher Cove Beach Park!
Fiesta del Sol, presented by the Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce, takes place beside Fletcher Cove Beach Park. The street festival continues through the weekend.Thousands turn out for a fun community event on a spring day in Solana Beach.Lots of tasty food could be found.Lots of art, too.This guy recycles surfboards.GC Dance Company performs at Fiesta del Sol.Photo of Fletcher Cove Beach Park from Overlook Park. I found a nice bench where I sat and read a book. (After visiting the food trucks to grab a mouthwatering lunch!)I wandered down to Fletcher Cove and looked north along the cliffs. Not many people were on the beach this overcast, slightly chilly day.A stand up paddle surfer was out on the Pacific Ocean waiting for the perfect wave.Walking back up from the beach toward the colorful festival.A cool Solana Beach sign above the tops of tents at Fiesta del Sol.Some people checked out some old school music for sale.Another vendor had all sorts of unique wooden items, including awesome model ships.The Solana Beach Civic Historical Society had a fascinating display of old photos. I learned about their Heritage Museum in La Colonia Park, which I’ll visit someday!Teenage rock band The Elements gets ready to perform at another stage near Pacific Coast Highway.More food!This artist surrounded by cool surf images displays his artwork at various festivals. I remember seeing him at the Ocean Beach Street Fair.These super long skateboards are Blue Murphy’s original Wonderboards! Murphy was a very friendly guy!On my way back to the Solana Beach train station to catch the Coaster, I spied this friendly stiltwalker. She was inviting people to a gallery down the street in the Cedros Avenue Design District.Lots of folks were having a great time today at Fiesta del Sol in Solana Beach!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Left half of mural by Rafael Lopez outside Coasterra on Harbor Island seems to depict abstract boats and the San Diego skyline across the bay.
Coasterra is an elegant, very popular restaurant located at the east end of Harbor Island. It opened in 2015, in the exact same place where the iconic Reuben E. Lee paddleboat restaurant was docked for many years, before sinking.
There are two lively murals painted by renowned San Diego muralist Rafael Lopez at the restaurant. The one I photographed this morning decorates a section of Coasterra’s exterior, by the parking lot.
I love it!
Two additional murals by Rafael Lopez can be seen in downtown San Diego here and here!
Photo of the cool mural across an empty early morning parking lot.A fun, dynamic work of public art by renowned San Diego artist Rafael Lopez.Right half of mural by Rafael Lopez outside Coasterra on Harbor Island seems to depict a lady enjoying food and drink.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Art on the food court level of Horton Plaza shopping mall.
Tasty artwork can be found on the food court level of downtown’s Horton Plaza mall!
This fun art was created by VISUAL, whose distinctive work you might recognize. Some of my street art blog posts include photos of utility boxes decorated by VISUAL. You can spot them throughout the city.
Walking through colorful Horton Plaza in downtown San Diego.Sign describes VISUAL, an art supply shop and gallery in North Park. Street art created by VISUAL artists can be spotted all around San Diego.Eating spaghetti.A cupcake and ice cream!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
People descend along a path into the beautiful Lower Garden during the Japanese Friendship Garden’s 2018 Cherry Blossom Festival.
I took many photos today at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Balboa Park. After the morning drizzle subsided, I headed up to the Japanese Friendship Garden where I knew there would be lots of fun, food and breathtaking natural beauty.
Not quite as many blooms as last year–this winter has been drier than average–but still an absolutely wonderful event. Thank you JFG!
Come along with me as we visit the festival…
The 2018 Cherry Blossom Festival at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park is just as wonderful as ever.Outside the garden, a short distance from the entrance is a plaque. It’s a replica of another plaque in Yokohoma, sister city of San Diego. The left half contains the theme song of the Yokohama-San Diego Friendship Committee.Sheet music and lyrics for San Diego, The Beautiful.
If you’d like to hear San Diego, The Beautiful, click here!
The festival had many exhibitors in the courtyard near the JFG office.Smiling young ladies were showing visitors how to fold bits of pink paper into cherry blossoms!A poster explains Cherry Trees at the JFG. Most in the garden are Pink Cloud cherry trees. They have recently acquired three more types–Taiwan Flowering, Okame and First Lady.Cherry blossoms in Japanese culture represent the transience and beauty of life.
The transience of cherry blossoms inspired a very short story, which I titled A Short Bloom. To read it, click here!
This part of the poster explains the six stages of bloom for cherry blossoms, from green bud to full, glorious bloom.Vendors showcasing crafts and gifts at the festival included Tum Tum Arts.Some cool Japanese artwork by Jed Henry on display at one table.I learned a bit about making Washi Dolls from one nice lady at the festival. Her mother makes these.Japanese crafts include the making of beautiful dolls with washi paper.The game of go is played near the Japanese Friendship Garden’s koi pond. Funny–by sheer coincidence I watched A Beautiful Mind last night. This mental game–more complicated than chess–begins and ends that inspiring film.More art by the koi pond–some colorful handmade cards.People head through the Charles C. Dail Memorial Gate to enter the Lower Garden, where many flowering cherry trees await.A master gardener hard at work by the path. He’s pruning some greenery on the Sunday of the Cherry Blossom Festival.Now we are in the Lower Garden. In mid-March, the beautiful stream runs past many delicate clouds of pink.A bit like heaven, perhaps.People stand on the waterfall bridge gazing toward the Inamori Pavilion.Walking past an ornamental Japanese lantern to the pavilion, where I knew there would be a lot of food!Checking out a big selection of Japanese food, including fried squid leg and shrimp tempura.Getting ready to flip some healthy Japanese savory pancakes, or okonomiyaki.These friendly guys pushing the huge drum would perform later in the day.These cool ladies held up a sweet fish-shaped taiyaki. Yum! I had one last year, too!Every year, the Cherry Blossom Festival promises lots of fun, good food and exquisite natural beauty!
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A demonstration of martial arts by members of the San Diego Wushu Center during the 2018 Chinese New Year Festival in Balboa Park.
Today I experienced two fantastic cultural events in Balboa Park. The first was the Chinese New Year Festival hosted by the House of China at the International Cottages.
2018 is the Year of the Dog, and a huge crowd turned out to enjoy Chinese food, entertainment and a whole lot of good fun. I stayed for a while and watched talented performers dance, demonstrate Kung fu, and fling bright Yo-Yos into the sunny San Diego sky to the delight of all! It was great!
The 2018 Chinese New Year Festival continues Sunday, from 11 am to 5 pm. You really should go!
Just in case you can’t make it, I took some colorful photos…
Tents in the lawn area of the International Cottages feature food, unique crafts and many fascinating aspects of Chinese culture.Cheerful artwork and entertainment are plentiful at the 2018 Chinese New Year Festival, hosted by the House of China in Balboa Park.Young students working with the Confucius Institute at San Diego State University dance during the program.Some traditional Chinese food being served included egg rolls, dumplings and bao–steamed buns with several different tasty fillings.I spotted one table with clever cards that open to colorful pop-up bouquets.Anyone could check the year of their birth against this Chinese horoscope. 2018 is the Year of the Dog.These cool kids of the Riverview International Academy Yo-Yo Team wowed the crowd with their amazing skill.I discovered a fascinating book about the history of the Chinese in San Diego. It’s title is In Search of Gold Mountain.Some beautiful Chinese brush art and ink drawings were being displayed by friendly local artists.Energetic martial artists demonstrated various forms of Kung fu. Many routines seemed like precise athletic dances.A graceful performance by members of the UCSD Chinese Dance Association.Many smiles and delightful surprises await visitors to Balboa Park during the 2018 Chinese New Year Festival.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
This graphic in the window at Fifth Avenue New York Pizza looks pretty tasty. Perhaps I should dine here…
It’s National Pizza Week! Hooray! Sounds like an excellent reason to celebrate!
This evening I was hungry for a couple of slices.
But where to go?
I’m not waiting for San Diego Restaurant Week. I want pizza now!Shall I eat dinner at Tony’s Pizza?Shall I eat dinner at Samurai Pie?Shall I eat dinner at Giovanni’s Trattoria?Shall I eat dinner at Brooklyn Pizzeria?Shall I eat dinner at City Pizzeria?I found some yummy pizza! After all that walking around downtown trying to figure out where to eat, I’m starving!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Holiday ribbons among flowers in front of a residence in Little Italy.
The holidays have ended. It’s January 2nd.
Early this morning I walked through Little Italy on my way to catch the trolley for work.
What did I see?
The holiday season is over in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood. Leaves are falling. Time to head back to work.A community Christmas tree is still lit, but abandoned. It stands behind a fence that surrounds the Piazza Famiglia construction site.Classic beauty is always abundant in Little Italy, no matter the season.Little Italy is famous for its restaurants and excellent dining. Even during winter, this establishment on India Street offers locally grown food.The poinsettias might be fading, but other greenery in planters along the sidewalk is bright and fresh.More lingering Christmas lights among colorful leaves.A funny sight in a shop window. The holidays are over! Now we must go back to work! Scream!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Cool San Diego Sights! 