A pre-game "Celtic Beer Dinner" is a new addition to this year's Celtic Highland Games, which take place Saturday at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport.
The dinner will be at the Blue Cat Brew Pub in Rock Island and feature a meal for competitors and fans, including Scotch eggs and salmon puff, lamb stew and stuffed turkey leg on Friday night. A beer tour is an optional part of the meal.
"I don't know why we've never done it before," games chairwoman Lisa Lockheart said. "All the runners carb-load before a race, but what do Highland Games athletes want? They want protein."
The cost for the dinner, with beer, is $40, or $32 without. Seating is limited to 40, and reservations must be made. Call (309) 788-8247.
As for the games themselves, the core events remain the same in its 11th year, Lockheart said. Three pipe bands will play throughout the day rather than a band competition, she said.
Sixty athletes are scheduled to compete in the Highland Games. A new wrinkle this year is high school and college challenges in which student-athletes will compete. Since regulations prohibit paying or being paid to participate, there is no entry fee and no prize money.
"It's just for bragging rights," Lockheart said.
Dance competitions also will take place throughout the day.
The evening party features music by the New Grass Review and The Mayflies at the Starlite Ballroom on the fairgrounds.
The additions and changes are part of keeping fans and competitors happy, Lockheart said.
"We try to kind of fix things up from year to year," she said. "We're a little experimental that way."
Posted in Restaurants, Family-fun on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 4:05 pm | Tags: Celtic Highland Games, Blue Cat Brew Pub, Lisa Lockheart, New Grass Review, The Mayflies
