Bagpipes, kilts and hammer throwing: Edmontonians celebrate Scottish culture

Hundreds of Edmontonians donned kilts Sunday for acelebration of Scottish culture at Grant MacEwan Park in south Edmonton.

The Edmonton Scottish Society Highland Gathering is one of the province's largest and oldest showcases of everything Scottish.

The annual event featuresthe stirring sounds of pipes and drums and events such ashammer throw and caber tossas well as plenty of food and highland dancing.

The event has been hosted at Grant MacEwan Park for the past 47 years, said Peter Dolan, president of the Edmonton Scottish Society.

However the celebration of Scottish culture in Edmonton dates back to 1934, according to the society's records.

The goal is to maintain tradition, he said.

"This is important for us just to teach the children," Dolan said. "And we're notexclusivelyScottishhere. Everybody's welcome."