Celtic fest attracts heritage buffs, old-world gamers
Joyce M. Miles
Sunday, September 19, 2026

OLCOTT — The fourth annual Niagara Celtic Heritage Festival and Highland Games got off to a quietly momentous start early Saturday when a Highland gamer broke a world record in weight-for-height throwing.

Terri James, 41, of Tompkins Cove, broke the amateur women’s record by hurling a 28-pound stone 16.6 feet into the air.

The red-haired mother of five, relatively a beginner in Highland matches since she’s only been on the circuit about five years, looked forward to the three extra throws — attempts at personal bests — she’d be given later.

Even if she didn’t break her own record, she could cheer on her husband and one of her daughters, who also are participating in the games. The Jameses were three of more than 50 gamers who turned out from as far away as New York City, Quebec, Pennsylvania and Ohio for the two-day event, which continues today.

Throughout Saturday a steady crowd of spectators gathered as men and women of all shapes, sizes and ages tossed stones and weights up or forward, hurled a sheaf — a 20-pound bale of twine — over successively higher bars with a pitchfork, and tossed cabers — long logs sized at 130 pounds for men and 90 pounds for women — end-over-end to test their athletic prowess.

Strength, distance and accuracy can be tested by means far more advanced, but the beauty of these games is they use simple, inexpensive earth elements just as the Highland warriors of long ago did.

“It’s all stuff you grew up with but were never able to cultivate,” festival co-organizer Philip Gow said. “The games involve a lot of athleticism. You have to have strength, no doubt about it.”

Unique to the Niagara games is the fact that professionals and amateurs mix in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. Games coordinator Paul Krest said where many larger festivals draw participation by invitation only, his welcomes the chance to turn new people on to the games.

“You never see that anywhere,” he said. “It’s a little competition for everybody.”

In that spirit, games emcee Ron Palmer encouraged participation from an initially quiet peanut gallery.

“Nobody has ever been asked to leave for making too much noise at a HIghland Games,” he deadpanned.

After pointing out Tom Fuller’s status as a first-time gamer in the sheaf toss, the crowd cheered when Fuller, of Medina, forked the sheaf over the 15-feet-high mark on his third try, then roared approval when he nailed the 17-foot mark too.

“The penalty of success in this game is that you get to try again,” Palmer said.

Regulation attire of the athletes — kilts — was part of the draw for some spectators.

Deborah Coder of Barker and Jackie Rising of Lyndonville watched the sheaf toss for a while.

“We wanted to see men in skirts,” Rising said. “And get an answer to the question, ‘what do they wear underneath?’”

Those who were a bit exposed appeared to be wearing shorts, thankfully.

Elsewhere on the grounds of Krull Park, bagpipes and ballads filled the air as Celtic characters milled about and vendors showed a panoply of unique goods from Merlin figurines, stained glass and stringed instruments to tapestries, wool accessories and chain maille attire.

Chain maille artist Jim Lovetro of Sanborn showed a variety of necklaces, wrist and ankle bracelets and headpieces, most beaded, while he worked at making one on site.

The pieces look intricately designed but Lovetro said once he’s got the form down, he can make a necklace from stainless steel wire in about an hour and a half.

“I’ve always been kind of a history buff,” he said. “This is a good outlet for my creativity.”

Strolling the grounds in full regalia, Elliot MacFarlane of Ohio, a colonel in the Regiment of Foot, gave impromptu talks about Scottish sword fighting. He showed off a variety of swords, explaining how they were used and why, and shared insight about the defense value of spiral staircases.

A member of the National Scottish Trust, which raises money to preserve historic sites in Scotland, MacFarlane said he thinks festivals like the one in Olcott appeal to people for their emphasis on heritage.

“You find out about your family and you want to find out more,” he said. “I don’t think you’ll find your long-lost cousin, you’ll find out more about where you came from.”

Clans Grant and Blair had tables set up for just that purpose.

Sampson Blair of Williamsville, who traces his family line back to the early 1700s, set out several Blair family genealogy books for anyone who wanted to look. With the crossing of family lines by marriage, Blair said, clan histories can be a great resource for beginning to trace many different family trees.
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