Loch Lomond Scottish Gathering and Celtic Festival

Loch Lomond Scottish Gathering and Celtic Festival Santa Cruz Mountains Scottish festival - A longstanding San Lorenzo Valley tradition! Eventually the popular games outgrew Highlands Park.

The Loch Lomond Highland Games were originally held at Highlands Park in Ben Lomond. Jeff Simpson along with former Boulder Creek business owner and Celtic jewelry artist, Garth Duncan, helped bring the games to the valley in the 1990s with the inception of the Loch Lomond Celtic Society. Inspired in part by the legendary “Scottish Days” at Ben Lomond’s Highlands Park back in the 1960s, Simpson sa

id, “We started conceptually in Garth’s shop on Memorial Day 1994, while talking about doing a Games and a Celtic educational venture in the San Lorenzo Valley.”

Jeff has been Chief since 1996, and Garth spearheaded what became the popular Loch Lomond Games at Highlands Park from 1997-2006 before moving his family and his craft to Scotland.

“The reason we want to have the Games in the valley is because of the rich Scottish heritage,” Simpson said. Place names such as Ben Lomond, Bracken Brae and Bonny Doon; road signs bearing the names of the valley’s Scottish settlers; a stone fountain near Highlands Park marking the location of the long vanished 19th century Rowardennan Hotel, the name referencing an enchanted Scottish flower and the Celtic word for "high woodland." Sponsored by International Clan MacFarlane Society, Simpson moved the "Santa Cruz Scottish Games and Celtic Festival" to San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz in 2009. The Games were discontinued in 2014. Simpson returned in 2015 to rebrand. The "Big Trees Scottish Gathering and Highland Games" was held that year at Roaring Camp Railroads and shared the event grounds with The Harvest Fair & Steam Festival. The Highland Games will return to San Lorenzo Valley ~ Stay tuned! More about the Games at Roaring Camp:

https://santacruzmountainslocal.com/2015/09/24/scots-wha-hae/

10/04/2025
10/04/2025

Last chance to celebrate Oktoberfest!! 🥳🎉Spend this Sunday, Oct. 5th from 4-8pm with us at to enjoy beers, brats by .food & accordion music by Mike Zampiceni in the 🍺🌭🪗

09/26/2025

A huge thank you to Steel Bonnet Brewing Company and Roberts' Ranch Vineyards, our heroic Ben Lomond Scottish Day sponsors! 🍻🍷

Be sure to stop the event to enjoy a Steel Bonnet brew or a glass of wine from Robert's Ranch Vineyards—in a oh-so-cute Ben Lomond glass!

09/26/2025

🍻✨ Promotional Pub Crawl – September 27, 2025 ✨🍻

Kick off the fun before the Games with our Seaside Highland Games Promotional Pub Crawl! 🎉🍺

📍 Pub Crawl Stops
1️⃣ BellRinger Brewing Co – 472 E Main St
2️⃣ BARRELHOUSE 101 – 545 E Thompson Blvd
3️⃣ Fluid State Beer Garden – 692 E Main St
4️⃣ Finney’s Crafthouse – 494 E Main St
5️⃣ Dargans – Ventura – 593 E Main St
6️⃣ Paddy’s – 2 W Main St
⚠️ Please be respectful. Do not ask for discounts.
7️⃣ Leashless Brew – 585 E Thompson Blvd
8️⃣ Victoria Pub & Grill – 1413 S Victoria Ave F

✅ Important Notes

*Must be 21+ with valid state ID
*Drink specials, venues & times may vary
*Venues may or may not offer discounts/promotions
*The Games promote safety & urge all participants to drink responsibly
*If a venue is at capacity, please wait or proceed to another stop
*Print or access your own map
*No set sequence – start and visit in any order
*Paddy’s is a gay bar – please be respectful

🎟️ More info & to download map www.seasidehighlandgames.org

Celebrating the Celtic traditions through masterful recordings by some of the best in the genre on The Mountain Road rad...
09/16/2025

Celebrating the Celtic traditions through masterful recordings by some of the best in the genre on The Mountain Road radio show every Monday from 8:00 to 10:00 pm on 89.3FM Boulder Creek Community Radio | Streaming at kbcz.org. 🍺🎻🍀

Celebrate 10 years of Steel Bonnet Brewing Company in Scotts Valley on Saturday, September 27! "Steel Bonnet celebrates ...
09/16/2025

Celebrate 10 years of Steel Bonnet Brewing Company in Scotts Valley on Saturday, September 27!

"Steel Bonnet celebrates 🔟 YEARS on Saturday, Sept. 27th from 12-9pm w/ food from & , ribbon cutting with , music by master piper Jay Salter, The Kerry Sheepdogs, En La Playa & , a raffle benefitting .live, entertainment & activities from , & , live radio broadcast by .3fm, new beers including a collaboration ale w/ the good folks at and lots of good vibes & big smiles with the full Steel Bonnet staff & owners throughout the day!!" 🥳🍻

Here's what's happening from The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay!
01/04/2025

Here's what's happening from The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay!

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Ben Lomond, CA
95005

Telephone

+18313251974

Website

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