Annual Scottish Festival Is Back at Bonnie Brae

The Scots return to the fields of Bonnie Brae School for the 24th year with bagpipes, drums, Highland dancers, sheep dogs, brawny athletes, British sports Cars, show dogs, re-enactors, vendors and entertainers. 

A full day of family activities will be held from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. when the Bonnie Brae Scottish Festival and Highland Games takes place this Saturday, June 5 – one of the highlights in Liberty Corner every year.

The event is held at the Bonnie Brae School and Treatment Center to assist the school and raise community awareness of the work done on behalf of the boys that attend the special needs facility. Bonnie Brae, accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), is one of the nation's preeminent therapeutic learning environments for at-risk adolescent boys; many of whom have been neglected, abused, or abandoned.

Over 500 pipers and drummers in two dozen plus bagpipe bands will compete and march throughout the day with a grand parade at Noon and again at 4:45 p.m. Also competing are over one hundred Highland Dancers ranging in ages from five to the early twenties. Dance competitions include the Highland Fling and the Sword Dance, both dating back into the mists of time. Other favorite events, popular with everyone, are the Scottish Athletics.  Feats of strength include sheath toss, shot put and the caber toss. The latter can best be described as throwing a small telephone pole end for end.

A special appearance by two of the highest ranked bagpipe bands in North America: Oran Mor from Albany, NY and The City of Washington from Washington, DC will be participating in the parades and will be featured in a special competition between the two bands.

There will be plenty of musical entertainment ongoing throughout the day.  Featured performers this year are Charlie Zahm blending guitar and Scottish Folk Songs and Na'Bodach, a rollicking Celtic Rock band.  Both are favorites on the Scottish and Irish musical scene.  A treat this year comes right from the Bonnie Brae boys themselves. The Bonnie Brae Knights Drum Corps will perform at the Opening Ceremony at Noon. Featured at the President's Obama's Inauguration, and for the second year at the New Your Tartan Day Parade, the boys will march and play for the hometown crowd.

Scotland is known for many dog breeds and various kennel clubs will bring Collies, Shetland Sheep Dogs, Greyhounds and Golden Retrievers to the festival.  Additionally, the Raspberry Ridge Sheep Farm from Bangor, PA will demonstrate sheep herding with their Scottish Border Collies. And for those of an automotive mind, the NJ Triumph Car Club will bring almost three dozen antique and British sports cars to the field.

Moreover, there will be lots of Scottish style food.  Fish and Chips, meat pies, bridies and maybe haggis. For those that are not culinary explorers, not to worry, there will be plenty of American fare.  Additionally, over two dozen organizations will help you search your Scottish ancestors, tell you all about the kilt and the various tartans, while re-enactors will teach and demonstrate the finer arts of sword play. The Companions of the Cross invite every one of all ages to try fencing.  Jewelry, clothing, gifts, bagpipes and kilts will be on sale at the vendor village.

The event is held rain or shine. Admission is $12 for Adults, $3.00 for children 6 to 16 and the wee ones under 6 are free.  There is a $5.00 parking charge.

For full information contact East of the Hebrides Entertainments at (610) 825-7268 (www.eoherbrides.com) or Bonnie Brae at (908) 647-4700.

The full schedule of events can be found in the pdf file accompanying this article.