History of Spokane Scottish Highland Games
Over 900 years ago, Scottish King Malcolm Canmore devised the first Scottish Games. In that tradition, the Inland Northwest has celebrated its heritage through a festival, tattoo, or Highland Games since 1959. That was the year of the first Scottish festival held in Coeur d'Alene, ID, to coincide with the annual Scottish Picnic held in the area every summer since 1935.
For the first few years, the festival or tattoo was merely a Saturday night pipe band contest that attracted pipe bands from Washington, Idaho, Alberta, and British Columbia. In 1967, the Coeur d'Alene Summer School of Piping and Drumming became integral to the tattoo.
Later, the tattoo became the Scottish festival and moved to Spokane, where it has been held every summer since in varying formats – in some years as a full-blown Highland Games and others as a more modest piping competition.
The 1994 Highland Games marked a renewal in the spirit and enthusiasm of the games with exhibits, demonstrations, traditional foods, piping, drumming, and dancing.
Coming to the Spokane Scottish Highland Games is a terrific way for the whole family to partake in the fun and excitement of this unique and colorful Scottish event without having to travel to Scotland.
For the first few years, the festival or tattoo was merely a Saturday night pipe band contest that attracted pipe bands from Washington, Idaho, Alberta, and British Columbia. In 1967, the Coeur d'Alene Summer School of Piping and Drumming became integral to the tattoo.
Later, the tattoo became the Scottish festival and moved to Spokane, where it has been held every summer since in varying formats – in some years as a full-blown Highland Games and others as a more modest piping competition.
The 1994 Highland Games marked a renewal in the spirit and enthusiasm of the games with exhibits, demonstrations, traditional foods, piping, drumming, and dancing.
Coming to the Spokane Scottish Highland Games is a terrific way for the whole family to partake in the fun and excitement of this unique and colorful Scottish event without having to travel to Scotland.
