The thousands of people who attended the 145th Scottish Highland Games this weekend at the Alameda County Fairgrounds were treated to non-stop bagpipe playing, Scottish country dancing, men and women wearing kilts and concession stands selling haggis with gravy.

The games are a place to showcase the Scottish culture through traditional activities and competitions.

"It's part of my heritage," said Caitlin Reid, a Pleasanton resident and freshman at Foothill High School.

Reid moved to the United States from Scotland two years ago. She competed Saturday as part of the Prince Charles Pipe Band in the grade 5 competition -- or beginner level. Grade 1 is considered professional-level competition.

Reid became involved in playing the bagpipes thanks to her older brother, Connor, a 15-year-old sophomore at Foothill High School.

"Connor played the chanter (a part of a bagpipe used for practice) in Scotland," Reid said. "I heard that and thought it was cool."

She first attended the games in the summer of 2008, when she and her family saw an advertisement for them.

"It looked like a lot of fun, and we were starting to miss home," Reid said. "We asked someone at the bagpipe stall about bagpipe lessons and they told us about the Prince Charles Band."

Reid enjoys competing and the opportunity to see how she stands in relation to other pipers, but the fun of the experience is most important. This weekend was her first time competing.

"I put lots of effort into my competition," said Reid, who had to juggle preparing for other events outside of the Scottish Games. She also is part of the Pleasanton Rage soccer group, participates in an Alameda County rugby league and is a player on her high school's water polo team.

Reid said the Pleasanton Games are similar to events held in Scotland. The events overseas also feature piping and drumming competitions and athletic events such as the hammer toss.

However, other aspects of life in America are different, Reid said.

"School was very laid back. We didn't really have grades or tests," she said of her education experience in Scotland. "It's a culture shock."

John Willy, an American with Scottish and English ancestry on his mother's side, has been playing bagpipes for five years. He also competed in the games on Saturday by performing "Gin I were a Baron's heir" in the grade 4 competition.

"I use a Great Highland Bagpipe for competition," he said of the instrument he kept slung over his shoulder. The bag featured five pipes protruding at various angles - a blowpipe, a chanter, two tenor drones and a bass drone.

During the competition Willy wore a Glengarry cap, a traditional hat worn by bagpipers, and a Clan Muir kilt with a pattern similar to the California state tartan.

Willy, a hardware and software engineer, has lived in Pleasanton since 1993. He and his wife, Donna, had their first Scottish Games experience in 1992 when the couple visited the Santa Clara competition.

The two have since been regulars at the Pleasanton games as spectators or participants. The Willys participate in other Scottish games and events sponsored by area Scottish organizations or the Western United States Pipe Band Association. They also perform as part of the City of Sacramento Pipe Band.

The Scottish Highland Games are sponsored every year by the Caledonian Club of San Francisco. This year's festival began Friday with the U.S. Marine band marching down Pleasanton's Main Street. The weekend's events also included Irish step-dancing, Celtic rock bands, a birds of prey exhibit, and sheep dog trials among other activities.