For the tenth year in a row, men in kilts will compete in tests of speed and strength at the annual Highland Games Saturday.

Organizers fund the games with support from Resonate Church and the E-Free Church of the Palouse, said Karl Olsen, an event coordinator and assistant clinical professor in civil and environmental engineering.

“The biggest draw seems to be the caber toss,” he said. “It is the most recognized Scottish games, and there is plenty of intrigue about tossing a log.”

Competitions featured during the event will include an axe toss, footrace, highland run, keg toss, wall siege and tug of war, according to the Highland Games website.

“This Highland Games in Pullman is just a grassroots gathering of guys,” Olsen said. “We started 10 years ago after watching Braveheart and jokingly discussed making our own kilts and throwing logs and rocks. I still wouldn’t call it very organized, but every year more guys keep coming out.”

The group began with about 20 male participants, Olsen said. Since then, they have attracted more competitors. This year, they will have 96 participants broken up into 16 clans, or groups of competitors. There was so much interest expressed this year that they had to turn some people away.

Most of the competitors are college students, but the event has seen past students return for the games, he said.
Several clans are coming from the west side of the state to participate.

“Since the roster is full, there is no room left in any of the events,” he said. “But we welcome spectators, and if anyone wants to bring a side dish or dessert, we provide the main dish for dinner and everyone brings something to share.”