Held at Stevenson School, Pebble Beach, California

42ND ANNUAL MONTEREY SCOTTISH GAMES & CELTIC FESTIVAL TO BE HELD AUGUST 1 AND 2, 2009 October, 2008. Monterey, CA The Scottish Society of the Monterey Peninsula has just announced that the 41st Annual Monterey Scottish Games and Celtic Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2, 2009 at pastoral Monterey County Toro Park, located between Monterey and Salinas on Highway 68. This very popular Celtic celebration brings the music, dance and athletic events of the mystical lands of Scotland and Ireland to Monterey County. Featuring fun activities for the whole family, the 42nd Annual Scottish Games & Celtic Festival will offer a variety of live Celtic entertainment with massed pipe bands on parade, including California pipe bands and Highland and Irish dancers. The Games will feature exciting Scottish heavy athletic competition events, including the famous Caber Toss. Great entertainment will be provided by professional Celtic Bands. Exciting colorful activities will include pipe band competitions, Drum Major competitions, Highland Dancing, Irish Step Dancing, Sheepdog herding, Clan and Celtic Association Tents. Stroll through the Avenue of Clans, visit one of the Clan tents and trace your ancestry. There will be lots of fun special events planned for the wee ones at the Children's Games, too. Over 50 vendors offering tasty British food and drink and unique Scottish and Irish crafts, jewelry, clothing, and music will be enjoyed by all. Sunday's Games will also include a special Concert on the main stage. Festival proceeds will benefit several local non-profit organizations. For more details, check out the website: http://www.montereyscotgames.com. For more sponsorship information or jpeg photos, please call Wendy Brickman at (831) 633-4444 or email Brickman@brickmanmarketing.com.

The 5th Annual Monterey Bay School of Piping and Drumming will be held from Sunday through Friday, June 14-19, 2009, at Stevenson School located at 3152 Forest Lake Road in Pebble Beach, CA. During the school on Monday, June 15, 2009, an open to the public Pub Night will be held with informal performances by the piping and drumming instructors. On Thursday night, June 18, 2009, there will be a very special Celtic Concert at Stevenson School, featuring the world class bagpipe instructors from Scotland, Irish dancers, and other special performers. The school will take place in advance of the 42nd Annual Monterey Scottish Games and Celtic Festival at Monterey County Toro Park which will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2, 2009, featuring a wide array of Scottish and Irish musicians, dancers, food, shopping and athletic events. Due to its success and popularity over the past several years, the internationally renowned National Piping Centre, based in Glasgow, Scotland, in association with Monterey Celtic Arts Academy (MCAA) is returning to Pebble Beach, California to again present The 5thAnnual Monterey Bay School of Piping and Drumming at beautiful Stevenson School. The Piping School will again feature some of the world’s finest piping and drumming instructors. This school is described in detail on the website: http://www.thepipingcentre.co.uk/schools/monterey-california/ Assisting Piping Centre’s Principal, Roddy MacLeod, with the 2009 Monterey Bay School of Piping and Drumming, is Michel d’Avenas, Pipe Major of the award-winning Monterey Bay Pipe Band. The school will feature four award-winning bagpipe instructors and one award-winning drumming instructor. Students are urged to register on the website for the school’s Residential Package or Day Student Package at this time as space is limited. A limited number of scholarships will be available for students in the region, and those interested should call Michel d’Avenas at (831) 372-2020 or email bagpipe11@comcast.net to receive a Scholarship Application Form. In addition to daily group lessons, a choice of workshops will be offered throughout the week. Piping topics may include maintenance and pipe set-up, tuning, theory, piobaireachd, uillean pipes and Scottish small pipe, tin whistle, playing with other instruments and other topics may be scheduled where relevant, and resources allow. Drumming workshops will concentrate on rudiments, technique, composition, drum set-up and performance. Students will be given the opportunity to sit for Institute of Piping examinations up to level 5 (senior). Students will have the option of registering for a residential package with a room and 3 meals per day at Stevenson School, or they can register as a Day Student which will include 3 meals per day. For more information, call Michel d’Avenas at (831) 372-2020 or email bagpipe11@comcast.net or call Roddy MacLeod at 44(0)141 353 0220 or email reception@thepipingcentre.co.uk.

The OC Fairgrounds and Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. Our Scottish Festival is on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 & 24 2009. There will be traditional Scottish Games and will feature competitions in highland dancing, bagpiping and drumming; massed pipe band performances and a spectacular opening ceremonies. Lots of great vendors and wonderful food booths. Great day for the whole family.