PLEASANTON — The 1st Battalion Pipes & Drums Scots Guards and the 3rd Marine Aircraft  Wing Band have been signed to perform at the 149th Scottish Highland Gathering & Games, set for this Saturday and Sunday  during Labor Day weekend at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. 

“The amalgamation of both of these extraordinary bands will be among the highlights of this year’s 149th Games,” stated Geoffrey Craighead, Chief of the Games host, the Caledonian Club of San Francisco. “We are very fortunate to host the Scots Guards, whose duties among others are ceremonial parading at Buckingham Palace in London. The Scots Guards are one of the most famous of the military pipes bands in the world.” 

The public can see the performance of both bands during the Massed Bands-Closing Ceremonies in front of the grandstands both Saturday and Sunday. The grandstand show begins at 3:45 with the U.S. Drum Major Championships. The Scots Guards and Marine band march in at 4:15, along with 30 other pipe bands from the U.S. and Canada, the largest assembly of pipe bands in the nation.

 Among the most spectacular offerings to the grandstand audience is the union of the Scots Guards and Marine band, playing together, interspersed arm-in-arm in a performance seen nowhere else in the world this year.

Admission to the annual Scottish Highland Gathering & Games affords the public to 21 different attractions and events at no additional charge. The exception is the Massed Bands-Closing Ceremonies where a grandstand seat is $6  for the two-hour show. Admission is free on the ground floor non-seat paved area.

Among the premium attractions is the 40th U.S. Invitational Heavy Event Championship featuring the world’s top heavy event pro and amateur athletes; the Western U.S.  Open Highland Dancing Championships; six stages of continuous entertainment from traditional to Celtic Rock; Living History with Mary Queen of Scots, Highland Warriors, Roman Legions and invading Vikings re-enactments and the Irish Pavilion, among the 21 attractions that have made these Games the most complete in the world.