The Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton is set to host the Scottish Highland Gathering and Games, an event that has taken place in the Bay Area since 1866. The gathering, described as the region's largest celebration of Scottish culture, will feature heavy athletics contests such as caber and stone tosses, the Kilted Mile race, and heritage exhibits.
Attendees can also participate in sheepdog trials, watch birds of prey demonstrations, and enjoy traditional foods, whisky tastings, and music from pipe bands, harpists, fiddlers, and Celtic rock groups.
This year's program includes the 2026 Men's Scottish Heavy Athletics World Championships and the 50th annual U.S. Invitational Heavy Athletics Championships. Fifty-four clans and Scottish societies are expected to participate. Actor and martial artist Adrian Paul, known for his role as Duncan MacLeod in "Highlander: The Series," will appear to greet fans, sign autographs, and lead a special sword experience in the Living History area.
The event runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at 4501 Pleasanton Ave. Tickets range from $5.60 to $44.80 and must be purchased online, while parking costs $15.
Other festivals are scheduled across the region during the same period. The Kings Mountain Art Fair, which began in 1963, will host more than 100 juried artists from the U.S. and Canada in a redwood setting.
The volunteer-run event, which benefits the local fire brigade and elementary school, offers free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at 13889 Skyline Blvd. in Woodside.
In Millbrae, the 55th annual Art & Wine Festival will feature 200 arts and crafts booths, live music, and food vendors. The event includes interactive workshops and a children's activity zone. Admission is free, and SamTrans will provide free shuttle service every 20 minutes from the BART station.
