Contributed by Jeni McDaniel
The Alaskan Scottish Club will host the 41st annual Scottish Highland Games held June 25th & 26th at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer. Gates open daily at 8am.
Throughout the day, athletes will compete in many events that include the caber toss, stone throw, weight over bar, challenge stone, the grueling Farmer’s walk, and sheaf toss (28# bale of hay is thrown for height). All are sure to be crowd pleasers. As in most years, many of the athletes will break event records during the Games in their classes.
Guests attending the Games will also enjoy shopping with over 120 vendors with unique merchandise, food, music, 4 scotch tastings and 2 Mead tastings (buy early-the tickets sell out fast), Tall Tales, Gathering of the Clans in the Celtic Village, relaxing in the tea tent, and many other fun activities. And of course, cheer on your favorite team during the Tug ‘O War and take pictures with the Highland Coo. Come early and stay all day long!
Admission into the Games includes special musical concert performances throughout both days by “Harp Twins with special guests The Volfgang Twins,” “The Rogues with EJ Jones of The Piper Jones Band” and Juneau’s own “Fire On McGinnis.”
Founded in Houston in 1994, The Rogues created a new genre of Celtic music with exceptionally well-played pipes and a driving percussion that delivers a commanding performance. The band has received an award for best international artists, produced its own theater show called Celtic Crossroads, has performed as a guest artist with the Air Force Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC and had has music featured in the 2011 film "Kill the Irishman.". They won 1st place in the original Strangford-Lough Celtic Battle of the Bands. Members of the band have competed all over North America and Scotland. The Rogues have produced 11 albums and 2 DVDs to date. The band even has its own tartan in the Scottish Register of Tartans. That Tartan is the background for the website!
Identical twin harpists, Camille and Kennerly Kitt, mix their virtuoso harp skills with the use of Electric Harps and Concert Grand Harps to provide stunning complex arrangements of rock, metal, Celtic, Renaissance, and soundtrack classics – as well as Celtic Nordic inspired original songs. They have represented the United States at four World Harp Festivals, toured worldwide as a duo and was featured guests on the 2020 nationwide PBS special, Celtic Heart. The Harp twins deliver exciting, comedic, and interactive family-friendly performances that will not be forgotten.
With a frothy blend of Irish and Celtic music spiked with modern rock, Fire On McGinnis can only be described as a head-banging, bagpipe playing live celebration! Fire on McGinnis is influenced by bands like The Dropkick Murphy’s, Flogging Molly, The Pogues and the Young Dubliners. They take songs steeped in Irish and Scottish tradition such as “Bedlam Boys,” “Foggy Dew,” and “Paddy’s Leather Breeches” and turn them into floor-bouncing rock songs. For a lively twist, Fire on McGinnis plays whiskey-spiked versions of modern rock songs by Led Zeppelin, The Cranberries, Chumbawumba, The Proclaimers and of course, a shot of their own Celtic inspired songs. While the band likes to keeps things hot with smoking fiddle and bagpipe tunes, the real aim is to have a good time and get the audience on their feet!
TICKETING
PARKING IS FREE AT THE RED GATE!
Advanced tickets* may be purchased online at alaskanscottish.org, or in-person at Fireside Books in Palmer, The Bookshelf in Eagle River, and both Bosco’s location in Anchorage for single, both days.
Family Pack Tickets (2 adult, 2 youth)
Both days: $40
Single day: $30
Single Tickets – Both Days
Adults: $20 ($25 at the event)
Youth (5-16): $10
Single Tickets – One Day
Adults: $13 ($15 at the event)
Youth (5-16): $5
*Prices do not include online convenience charge.
Daily updates can be found on Highland Games’ Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ALASKASHG/
Special Guest to the Alaska Scottish Highland Games: Chef Gary Maclean
The Alaskan Scottish Club is excited to be welcoming, National Chef of Scotland and BBC MasterChef: the Professionals Winner, Chef Gary MacLean to the Alaska Scottish Highland Games this year! He will be presenting some amazing cooking demonstrations at the games and also hosting the 2022 ASHG Kick-Off Banquet at Settler’s Bay Lodge.
Born in Glasgow, 47-year-old multi-award winning chef Gary Maclean spent his early career was working in hotels where he learned a number of key skills. At the age of 30, he opened his own restaurant in Glasgow and as head chef challenged himself to regularly create new and exciting menus for his customers. From there, he went on to run the kitchens at Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art and the Burrell Collection.
Gary has held executive chef positions at two of Scotland’s biggest independent operators and his current role as Senior Lecturer at City of Glasgow College is what really drives his passion for mentoring other young chefs and creative cooking.
In December 2016, he was crowned MasterChef, the Professionals Champion 2016, after taking on 47 other professional chefs in the pursuit of gastronomic glory. He battled through seven weeks of fierce competition on our TV screens and extra-ordinary cooking in the culinary challenges. There was only one king of the kitchen, and he touched the hearts and passions of the UK TV audience. Interested in learning more about Chef MacLean? www.garymacchef.com/
Cooking Demos Hosted by Chef Gary Maclean
Chef Gary Maclean has 3 very special and unique cooking demonstrations planned for the ASHG this year! The first is "Gary Maclean's Scottish Kitchen Cookery Book Live." During this demo he will be preparing, Glasgow Macaroon, Ayrshire Shortbread, and Cranachan. Our mouths are watering thinking about these tasty treats! This Demo will be offered on Saturday at 11am and Sunday at 1:30pm.
The second cooking demonstration Chef Gary Maclean will be hosting at the ASHG this year is called "A Taste of Outlander" and features Haggis and potato hash with perfect poached eggs, Brandan Rost homemade hot smoked salmon, and Hot smoked salmon salad. Just in time for fishing season, the demo will teach you a new way to cook your summer catch! This demo will be offered on Saturday at 1:30pm and Sunday at 4pm.
The third cooking demo that Chef Gary Maclean will be hosting this year is sure to be a favorite among Alaskans! "William Wallace Country a celebration of food and produce from central Scotland" will feature Pan-Fired king scallops with black pudding and potato, Steamed Mussels, and Tattie Scones. This demo will be offered on Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 11am.
Register now for the demos, as seating is limited! www.alaskanscottish.regfox.com/2022ashgcookingdemos
2022 ASHG Kick-Off Banquet
On Friday Night, June 24th, the Alaskan Scottish Club will be taking over Settlers Bay Lodge in Wasilla for a magnificent evening of world-class Scottish food, fun, and music. We will be presenting a Games Kick-Off Banquet and Fundraiser for the Alaska Scottish Highland Games. The evening will be hosted by National Chef of Scotland, Chef Gary MacLean, who will have a significant role in the creation of a delicious Scottish meal with the help of the talented chefs at Settler’s Bay. Those, in attendance for the evening, will be serenaded by very special music guests, the Harp Twins. Get ready to get up and dance to the tunes of The Rogues featuring EJ Jones of the Piper Jones Band. There will be some fabulous silent auction items and great door prizes. The setting for the evening will be the scenic views of Settler’s Bay. Seating for the evening is limited.
The cost is $150 per person and includes dinner at Settler’s Bay, a shot of Scotch for the end of evening toast, entry for the door prize. Tickets are available on our ticketing site: