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Oregon Scottish Heritage Festival: A Great Family Event in Beautiful Albany

Albany, Oregon is a visually stunning location for any vacation thanks to its prime location in the lush green expanse of the Willamette Valley and nestled between the Calapooia and Willamette Rivers. The area was originally settled by American East Coast families (Monteith and Hackleman) in the mid-19th century. They helped establish infrastructure, laid out public areas and set the groundwork for the city to grow and expand. Steamboat and stagecoach travel also helped fuel the expansion of the town in the 1860’s. In the 1870’s, local businessmen came together and raised enough money to convince the railroad to build tracks that led directly into town and the area was changed forever. Albany became the manufacturing and transportation hub for the entire Willamette Valley and the city didn't look back.

 

Today, Albany is a friendly and welcoming city with over 51,000 residents. The city is the 11th largest in the state and features the largest collection of historic buildings in the entire state. The rich history of the city is just begging to be explored at the local museums, historic sites and the ever popular Albany Historic Carousel. You’ll find a lively arts and entertainment scene with multiple venues for concerts, shows, visual arts exhibits and more.

 

Outdoor enthusiasts will fall in love with the stunning panoramic vistas found here, as well as a wide assortment of fun outdoor activities like hiking on miles of well groomed trails, teeing it up at championship level golf courses, or just exploring acres and acres of beautiful public parks. Albany is a city that loves to gather and celebrate, and one of the best times to visit the area is during one of the major events like the Oregon Scottish Heritage Festival.

 

The Oregon Scottish Society has been putting on the popular and widely anticipated Oregon Scottish Heritage Festival for nearly two and a half decades. This event is family-friendly and educational, a place where you can explore Scottish Heritage and find out if you have any Scottish lineage yourself. You’ll experience bagpipe music, traditional Scottish dancing, great Scottish food, interactive booths, and you’ll have a special opportunity to hear unique stories of Scottish heritage. Kids will love the interactive games, dressing in Scottish costumes and even learning words in Gaelic. Turn your next family vacation into a fun and educational adventure and head to the Oregon Scottish Heritage Festival. ResortsandLodges.com got the opportuntiy to interview Larry Bardell, The President of the Oregon Scottish Society, to talk about this great event.

 

RAL: Tell me a little about the event.

LB: The event originated in 1992 when a few friends and acquaintances of Scottish heritage met in Salem for an informal social gathering. They enjoyed the fellowship so much, that they decided to repeat the gathering a year later.  This time there were more than 30 people in attendance. At the second gathering, a decision was made to incorporate and host an annual Scottish festival complete with clans, vendors, and Celtic entertainment. The group has since expanded its membership to over 360 individuals, plus the membership of two other Scottish Societies, and has hosted 25 festivals since 1994. Although no accurate tally has been kept over the years, it is estimated that the festivals have drawn over a thousand people annually.

 

RAL: What makes the festival unique?

LB: The April timing of the Oregon Scottish Heritage Festival places it as the first in a series of Celtic festivals held throughout the state. The event takes place indoors and is the only festival with an onsite kitchen that serves an authentic Scottish menu. Another unique feature of the festival is that it focuses not only on providing entertainment, but also educational information on the history and heritage of influential Scottish people and their contributions to the world in areas of science, education, medicine, industry, technology and the fine arts.

 

RAL: Take me through a typical day at the event.

LB: Clans from throughout the Pacific Northwest gather to celebrate Scottish heritage together. Vendors of Celtic wares display clothing, jewelry, and fine arts. Historical re-enactors provide insight into daily life and activities of 16th and 17th century Scotland. Children get a hands-on experience wearing a knight's armor. Pipe bands play favorite Scottish marching tunes. Dancers perform Irish and Scottish dancing routines. Due to the festival being held on or near National Tartan Day, the opening ceremony includes a recognition of what the 105th U.S. Congress declared in 1998. They set the day aside to recognize the contributions of the Scottish people to the formation of America.

 

Entertainment consists of award winning national and international musicians as well as local entertainment groups. The opening ceremony often includes a Mayor’s Welcome to the City of Albany.

 

Mary and Sandy’s Kitchen is a special feature of the Oregon Scottish Festival. It is located within the Willamette Building in the large hall where the festival takes place. The menu includes typical Scottish food items such as scones, Scottish Eggs, bangers, and other Scottish staples. Albany is well known for its fine dining at several very popular restaurants located on First and Second Streets in the downtown area.

 

The festival is held indoors in the Willamette Building of the Linn County Fair and Expo Center. The large facility includes restrooms, an ATM machine, and WiFi access.

 

RAL: What can attendees expect to find for local lodging?

LB: The Comfort Suites and Best Western Prairie Inn, each located near the Expo Center, are offering a limited number of special rate rooms for the event. Several other motels and the Blue OX RV Center are located within a mile of the fairgrounds.

 

RAL: What does the event mean to the community?

LB: The event helps to bring tourist activity to the local area, which helps to boost the

revenue of restaurants, hotels/motels, gas stations, and other business. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the event are designated to a local non-profit charity organization.

 

RAL: Why should people come?

LB: The Oregon Scottish Heritage Festival is of particular interest and benefit to those who enjoy culture and history, and who wish to make connections with their ancestry and heritage. The festival offers a variety of experiences, including the option of exploring genealogical links to Scottish ancestors, searching for family names and clans, and the enjoyment of top quality Celtic entertainment. Attendees also have the option of purchasing a raffle ticket to win a high quality eight-yard Scottish kilt with the tartan of their choosing. Parking is free for this event. General admission is $10. Seniors, students, and veterans with ID are $8. Children 12 and under are free. The entertainment is included in the admission fee.


For more information about the Oregon Scottish Heritage Festival and the Oregon Scottish Society, please visit their website.