Scottish Highlands Fest & Games - Oak Brook

I know this might seem a tad off topic, but anyone ever been and what kind of food do they have at this?

I've never been to these games, but they have always sounded like a fun, kind of eccentric way to spend an afternoon.

Here's a link: http://www.chicago-scots.org/activities/Games/games-d.htm

There will be Haggis Hurling (I hope projected from the hands and not the stomach).

Hammond

I have never been, but also have heard about it and thought that it looks like fun. From what I've heard, there definitely is a healthy amount of drinking going on (i.e., scotch tasting, etc., but also beer drinking). It looks like Johnny Walker is giving several demonstrations -- I've attended a scotch tasting event with a Johnny Walker rep talking about the blending process, and it was interesting and quite fun.

As for the Highland games themselves, I think that they sound pretty interesting. As for the Scottish food -- there isn't much of a description on the website, but I think that haggis and the like probably could be skipped. (Although, I'd imagine that, in the interest of pleasing the crowd, they probably have more pedestrian fare such as fish & chips, etc.)

I've been a couple of times. My husband used to compete in the Highland Games (though not at that competition). Meat pies, fish and chips, haggis, beer and whiskey are standard fare for Scottish festivals. The occasional fried Mars bar and other festival type food makes an appearance. I think I had the fish and chips there both times. Stand around a bit and see who comes away with the best looking food, as there are usually several places with similar/the same choices.

As for the Highland games themselves, they include two weight tosses for distance, the heavier being 56lbs, two weights of hammer throws (my favorite events), the sheaf toss for height (takes forever to complete), the caber (flip a telephone pole end over end and make it look easy - the crowd drawing event- usually around 1:00). I think I'm forgetting one.

Thanks you all.

I've been wanting to go to this ever since I saw it on the news a couple years ago, but other things kept coming up. It just looks like a fun way to spend an afternoon.

I'm adventerous, I will eat haggis. I'll probably hate it, but I'll try it.

I'm assuming they moved from Oakbrook to Itasca and this coming weekend is the same series. Yes, confirmed from a friend. Originally Grant park, then OB, now Itasca. Perhaps a moderator could change the title of this thread. This year is next Friday and Saturday, June 14-15.

Has anybody gone, that can report on how authentic the Haggis is? I've had canned but that is all. The canned is so processed, AFAICS, pretty much indistinguishable from any canned ground meat. To be truly authentic, of course, it would have to be proclaimed "not for human consumption" as one or more of the traditional ingredients is not allowed to be sold as food in Illinois.

Barring reports that it would be pointless, anybody else thinking of going and might want to meet up there? Itasca is so close for me, I kind of feel it would be wrong not to go, at least one day. I have plans Saturday evening, so would have to leave by about 2:30 pm if I went that day. I know the 1:30 pm fiddler and some friends might be performing scottish dance then, so that is a likely time for me to go.

Eric wrote:Thanks you all.

I've been wanting to go to this ever since I saw it on the news a couple years ago, but other things kept coming up. It just looks like a fun way to spend an afternoon.

I'm adventerous, I will eat haggis. I'll probably hate it, but I'll try it.

It's kind of a cross between paté and sloppy joy. Some is better than others, but I've never had a haggis I didn't like. And I'm not a big fan of offal, either. But a good haggis is a joy forever. (My favorite haggis this side of the pond is the recipe the Illinois St. Andrew's Society has for their Fest of the Haggis in November.)

As for fun way to spend the afternoon, I've always enjoyed the Highland Games. I'll be busy this weekend so will miss it this year, but the dancing, the sheep dog demos, the bag pipes, the caber tossing -- just a lot of fun.