Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival showcases a wee bit of Scotland

By Ian Swaby
| 7:45 p.m. January 31, 2026

Ethan Kuhn of Suncoast United Pipes and Drums performs in the ceremony.

Sarasota
Neighbors

The drizzly and overcast weather throughout the day on Jan. 31 might have been unexpected in Sarasota.

But not in Scotland.

Bob Fair, president of Suncoast Scots, said the group imported the weather from Scotland for the Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival it organizes.

"We said, 'We don't really want rain, not a lot of wind, but we do want something that reminds us of Scotland across the pond," he said. "So here we got it today."

Many attendees bundled up in scarves and warm attire as they enjoyed the traditional Highland games, a dance competition, Highland Coos, sheep herding dogs, merchandise vendors and Scottish food.

"It's just a great day here in Sarasota to come out and celebrate your Scottish heritage, and if you're not Scottish, just come out and celebrate, period," Fair said.

Owen Odrzywolski, a 7th grader at Dunedin Highland Middle School, performs during the opening ceremony.

Rubi Harnish, Kinslee Mastin and Adelyn Dagleish dance in the Highland Dance Competition, which featured dancers from a wide range of locations.

Leslie Jones and Bob Fair, president of Suncoast Scots, march in the opening ceremony.

James Timblin's retired service dog Bella, a Collie and Whippet mix who performs at various events, meets Bonnie Pickett, 5.

Drum Major Steve McClure leads the way in the ceremony.

Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) rides in the parade.

Thuan Hong Tan, Margie Kam and Diana Stoker of the Sister Cities Association of Sarasota walk in the parade.

Jason Briggs, Georgia state commissioner of the Clan Irwin Association, takes a swig from a drinking horn.

Adelaide Wiegand, 9, meets Saoirse, a Highland Coo from The Salty Heifer Livestock Co.

Rachael Yancy of Vero Beach makes a throw in weight over bar.

Jason Richards of Ocala hands a caber off to Cameron Gadway of Palm Harbor.

Cameron Gadway of Palm Harbor tosses a caber.

Osprey's Austin Gardner, 14, of Boy Scouts of America Troop 77, and his father John Stanley, handed out water to visitors.

Matheson Lovell, 6, took home a Highland Coo of his own.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.