A BONNIE 60TH TO YE : Costa Mesa Brews Another Scottish Festival Steeped in Family History and Tradition

Change is a constant factor for most families, which can make it difficult for a child to establish much in the way of roots. Even at family reunions, youngsters are often more interested in probing the Jell-O molds than their ancestry.

With its emphasis on family history and traditions, many of them dating back 10 or more centuries, the 1992 Scottish Festival may be an effective way to give a sense of heritage to your children. The 60th anniversary event runs Saturday and Sunday at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

According to event spokeswoman Doreen Murphy, more than 50,000 people converged on the fairgrounds last year to view traditional Scottish dances, sporting events, musical competitions and displays. The festival has equal appeal to Scots and non-Scots alike, Murphy said.

“We get people from all different races and nationalities,” said Murphy, an Englishwoman. “There’s just a homey feeling to it that they want to be a part of.”

The Scottish Festival is sponsored by the United Scottish Society of Southern California, a nonprofit group of 3,000 members of Scottish heritage in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Robert Reoch (pronounced ree-OK), an Orange loan officer and a society member for 37 years, serves as the chieftan or chairman of this year’s festival.

Aside from the pageantry, one of the festival’s greatest draws is the clanaree, where this year representatives of 54 different clans will help visitors trace their Scottish roots, said Reoch, whose family is a sept, or offshoot, of the clan Farquherson (far-ku-son). Guests can get a good look at the tartans of various clans during a March Past, or parade, of clan members each day.

Families aren’t the only things with roots here, however. Most of the athletic events and dances in the festival can be traced back to the 8th or 9th centuries. Competitions like the caber toss, in which burly contestants heave a 20-foot pole end over end, the hammer throw and the weight throw are inspired by endurance tests undergone by early Scots vying for leadership in the clan and on the battleground. Athletes from the United States, Canada and Scotland will participate in the games, judged by a panel brought over from Scotland especially for the event.

According to Emily Ann Donaldson’s “The Scottish Highland Games in America,” such festivals were begun in America in the late 18th and early 19th centuries by Scottish immigrants fleeing political persecution and poverty. (At one time, bagpipes, kilts and other trademarks of Scottish tradition were viewed by the English as weapons of war that stirred the clans to rebellion. The 1746 Act of Proscription, in fact, prohibited any “man or boy within that part of Great Britain called Scotland” from wearing Highland dress.)

Dances to be performed at the festival also provide a glimpse into Scottish history. The seann triubnas, for example, is interpreted by many as a dance of protest against the Act of Proscription. The sword dance, or grillie calum, in which the performer dances across a pair of crossed swords, is a ritual pre-battle dance whose legend can be traced back to the 11th Century. Dances will be performed in full Highland dress both days of the festival.

According to Reoch, other highlights of this weekend’s event include soccer games, a 15-band bagpipe competition, and demonstrations of border collies herding sheep and ducks. There will also be entertainment by singer Alex Beaton and world fiddling champion Alesdair Fraser, an exhibit of vintage British cars, and a variety of booths selling Scottish food and goods.

To further encourage families to attend, organizers have added a special children’s area on the fairgrounds’ Centennial Farms with animals and children’s games, and reduced the ticket price for children to $1.

What: 1992 Scottish Festival.

When: Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

Whereabouts: From the southbound Costa Mesa (55) Freeway, exit at Del Mar/Fair Drive and turn right.

Wherewithal: Two-day tickets for adults are $13 to $15; one-day tickets are $8 to $10. Admission for children ages 5 to 14 is $1 per day; under 5 is free.

Where to call: (310) 370-9887.