The National Piping Centre, in association with the Monterey Celtic Arts Academy, to present the 4th annual Monterey bay School of Piping and Drumming in Pebble Beach prior to the 41st Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival

A very special event-filled “2nd Annual Monterey County Celtic Week” will be held the week of June 28, 2008 through July 6, 2008, including the 4th Annual Monterey Bay Piping and Drumming School and the 41st Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival.

This exciting week will begin with the 4th Annual Monterey Bay School of Piping and Drumming will begin, to be held from Saturday, June 28th to Thursday, July 3rd, at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California. On Sunday, June 29th, there will be the annual popular Caber Parade featuring Scottish dancers, bagpipers and drummers on Sunday, at 1 p.m. in Devendorf Park in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea along Ocean Avenue.

The award-winning Monterey Bay Pipe Band will perform at the Caber Parade and also during the 4th of July Parade in downtown Monterey. Also during the school, on Tuesday, July 1st, there will be a Pub Night at the Mucky Duck Restaurant & Pub in Monterey, with informal performances by the piping and drumming instructors. On Wednesday, July 2nd, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., there will be a very special Celtic Concert at the Stevenson School Auditorium, featuring world class bagpipe instructors from Scotland and the United States, dancers from the Allison Barnes Academy of Irish Dance, and other Celtic performers.

The 2nd Annual Monterey County Celtic Week will culminate in the not-to-be-missed 41st Annual Monterey Scottish Games and Celtic Festival at pastoral Monterey County Toro Park located between Monterey and Salinas on Highway 68, on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6, 2008. This very popular Celtic celebration brings the music, dance and athletic events of the mystical lands of Scotland and Ireland to Monterey County. Featuring fun activities for the whole family, the 41st Annual Scottish Games & Celtic Festival will offer a variety of live Celtic entertainment with massed pipe bands on parade, including California pipe bands and the award-winning Delta Police Pipe Band from British Columbia, Canada, and Highland and Irish dancers. The Games will feature exciting Scottish heavy athletic competition events, including the famous Caber Toss. Great entertainment will be provided by professional Celtic Bands. Exciting colorful activities will include pipe band competitions, Drum Major competitions, Highland Dancing, Irish Step Dancing, Sheepdog herding, Clan and Celtic Association Tents. Stroll through the Avenue of Clans, visit one of the Clan tents and trace your ancestry. There will be lots of fun special events planned for the wee ones at the Children’s Games, too. Over 50 vendors offering tasty British food and drink and unique Scottish and Irish crafts, jewelry, clothing, and music will be enjoyed by all. Sunday’s Games will also include a special Concert on our main stage. Festival proceeds will benefit many local non-profit organizations. For more details, check out the website: http://www.montereyscotgames.com.

Due to its success and popularity the last few years, the internationally renowned National Piping Centre, based in Glasgow, Scotland, in association with Monterey Celtic Arts Academy (MCAA) is returning to the Monterey Peninsula to again present, The 4th Annual Monterey Bay School of Piping and Drumming at beautiful Stevenson School in Pebble Beach. This Piping & Drumming School attracts novice and advanced bagpipers and Scottish drummers from around the United States. This outstanding school will be held from Saturday, June 28, 2008 to Thursday, July, 3, 2008, and will again feature some of the world’s finest piping and drumming instructors.

Internationally renowned bagpipers and teachers at the school will include the award-winning Roddy MacLeod, MBE (Executive Director of the National Piping Centre since 1996) and an outstanding team of piping and drumming instructors. For more information, check out http://www.thepipingcentre.co.uk or email Roddy MacLeod at reception@thepipingcentre.co.uk, call Michel d’Avenas at (831) 372-2020 or email bagpipe11@comcast.net.