Kilts will be donned, bag pipes will wail and heavy objects will fly — the Highland Games are back!

The Douglas County Scottish Society is hosting the 15-annual running of this ancient competition this weekend at Riverbend Park in Winston.

The Games, scheduled to begin Saturday morning, are a world-renowned rich staple of Scottish and Celtic tradition that predates recorded history. During times of English occupation when Scots weren’t allowed to brandish traditional weaponary, the men of Scotland trained for combat with a primitive arsenal of heavy stones and tree limbs they learned to throw accurately.

This weekend, roughly 50 to 75 modern-day highlanders will do the same — minus the combat.

The athletes’ abilities will be tested in events such as the hammer toss, weight throws for distance and height and the ever-famous caber toss, which basically measures how far competitors can heave a telephone poll end over end.

The games last through Sunday afternoon but are only part of the pageantry-filled weekend, which also features Celtic cuisine, Highland exhibits and a parade of clans both days at noon. Starting tonight at 7 p.m., there will be live music tuned for both the modern and old-fashioned Celts.

Admission to the Games is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for children. Admission is free for children under 7 years old.

Tent and RV camping are available along the Umpqua River for $10 to $15 per night. Wildlife Safari and the Scottish Society are offering a weekend package for $19.99. This admits participants to one visit to the Games plus a tour at the local Wildlife Safari. Tickets are on sale at the Wildlife Safari Gift Shop.