Scotland Arrives With Sunshine in Basking Ridge

It's a rare June day that merry old Scotland is as hot and sunny as was Bonnie Brae's annual Scottish Festival and Highland games in Liberty Corner all day on Saturday.

But even with New Jersey's sunshine, there were plenty of authentic Scottish touches at the daylong event, held for the 27th year at the Bonnie Brae School and Treatment Center in Bernards Township.

Bagpipers from New York State, Delaware and elsewhere joined bands from nearby for an exhibition and competition of their talents — and tartans.

As always, plenty of Scottish vendors helped visitors track down their Scottish roots, their ancestral tartans — or enjoy Scottish and British delicacies.

And it's not often in these here parts that athletic competitions include such feats as women tossing bales of hay and men tossing large poles known as cabers. A full day of family activities was scheduled the first Saturday in June each year.

Fundraiser for school's residents

The event is held at Bonnie Brae to assist the school and raise community awareness of the work done on behalf of the boys who attend and live at the facility, established in the early part of the 20th century. The adolescent boys come from a troubled background, and many would have nowhere else to go. More information about Bonnie Brae is online.