SAILING TO SCOTLAND? It's a dream of many people who have a fondness for the waves, and the open ocean, and the romance of the trip, and the knowledge of the great food and delicious beverages that will be enjoyed once the boat arrives at its last port. But what if the ocean-liner that'll take you there actually never leaves the very spot it is in? How can Scotland possibly be reached if an ocean-liner doesn't move an inch? The mystery is solved each February in Long Beach, when ScotsFestival returns to the Queen Mary. It's the annual two-day party that pays high honor to the place where the icon was built in the 1930s, the River Clyde in Scotland. Because the Queen Mary can't return to her birthplace — she's been a permanent resident of the Southern California city for over a half century now — Scotland kindly pays a visit to the boat, in the form of Highland Games, rollicking music, whisky tastings, and all of the kilt-tastic details you'd want and expect from such a spectacular. The 2018 dates are merrily jigging this way, so make your way to Long Beach on...
SATURDAY, FEB. 17 AND SUNDAY, FEB. 18: The Highland Games are a strength-amazing centerpiece to the weekend, so be sure to catch the action, which will include the Caber Toss, the Hammer Throw, and Putting the Shot. Drumming, darts, and bagpipes? You bet, they're all on the schedule, as is a pop-up experience by the name of Greyfriar's Pub, chef demos, sheepherding, and plenty of vendors. Want to spend the night on the ship? It's a hotel, so best look into a stay-over. Want to go to Scotland? You can savor some of the Scottish joy, athleticism, cuisine, and more in Long Beach, at an epic ocean-liner that first rose in Scotland over 80 years ago. Speaking of years, and the passage of time, ScotsFestival is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018, promising that the festival will be quite the cèilidh.
