Bonnie Brae Scottish Festival and Highland Games
You don’t have to be Celtic to enjoy today’s Bonnie Brae Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Liberty Corner, New Jersey – everyone is welcome to celebrate!
CEO Bill Powers explains.
What is your own ethnic heritage/background?
I am an Irish American.
How, when and why did you get involved with the event?
As the new CEO of Bonnie Brae, one of New Jersey’s oldest and largest residential treatment centers for boys and young men, I attended my first Scottish Games on our grounds in June of 2003, ten years ago.
What is the event’s core mandate?
The Scottish Games connect our 100+ residents with the Scottish heritage of our agency’s founder, Judge Harry V. Osborne. The games also provide an enjoyable venue for our local community to experience Bonnie Brae.
How has it grown over the years?
The Games seem to grow a little bit each year. There are now more athletes, vendors, and entertainers.
Who attends the gathering?
The Games draw a very loyal group of athletes, performers, and attendees. Many families have been coming to the Games since their beginning at Bonnie Brae.
What can they expect to experience this year?
People attending the Games this year can expect to experience a wee bit of Scotland in central New Jersey. There will be the traditional Scottish Games, dancing competition, gathering of the clans, Scottish food, and vendors of Scottish products.
Why is it an important event for the Celtic community there?
The Scottish Games provide an annual opportunity for the local Celtic community to interact with others of the same background, and experience a fun day of Scottish food, games, and entertainment.
Why is it an important event for the non-Celtic community there?
The Scottish Games provide the rare opportunity for the non-Celtic community to experience a bit of Scotland. The Games also provide the only opportunity for the non-Celtic community to visit the bucolic Bonnie Brae campus.
What are the plans for the event in the years ahead?
We continue to hope for good weather each year and to continue to increase attendance at the Games.
http://www.bonnie-brae.org/sg2010.asp
We need to resume the spring Scottish Games at Bonnie Brae . . .
I AGREE! BRING THE GAMES BACK!
i really hope they bring the games back this year
Are the games coming back for 2019?! I always loved going as a child.
I am a clan captain for clan McIntosh, New Jersey falls under my jurisdiction to find conveners for Mackintosh to set up clan tents. I would like more information about your games so I can pass it along to potential conveners in New Jersey. You can get in touch with me at, ceilidh270@gmail.com.
Thank you.