photo by: Contributed Photo

Jacob Langworthy, founder of Nine Point Athletics, takes part in a caber toss. Langworthy's Nine Point Athletics is organizing the Free State Highland Games, which will be Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

It’s better known for folksy county fair activities, but on Saturday the Douglas County Fairgrounds will be hosting a very different kind of folk competition with a Scottish flair — the first annual Free State Highland Games.

Highland games are a style of traditional Scottish events that have taken place for centuries both in Scotland and around the world. They combine a festival-like atmosphere with contests of strength, such as the famous caber toss, where contestants throw a long pole or log so that it turns end-over-end.

The games are being organized by Topeka-based Nine Point Athletics, which is in its first year of organizing events to promote these traditional “heavy athletics.” Founder Jacob Langworthy said he’s competed professionally in Highland Games for eight years, and that the goal was to get more visibility in the Midwest for a type of event that’s not often held here.

“It’s not a very well-known thing” in this part of the country, he said, and so “we’re trying to slow-build, build the culture around it” in hope of holding bigger events.

Saturday’s games will include both professionals and amateurs, although Langworthy said the registration for the amateur categories is already full up. The amateur competition starts at 10 a.m., and the professional competition starts at 4 p.m.

You can expect to see both men and women competing in a variety of throwing and strength events. These include some events that look like familiar track and field staples, such as a stone that’s thrown like a shot put and a hammer throw. But there are some important differences, Langworthy said, such as the fact that the handle of the hammer is rigid, unlike the hammer with a wire that’s common in track and field.

photo by: Contributed

Highland Games athlete Jeremiah Giambartolomei throws a stone in a previous Highland Games competition. He is among the professionals who will be at the Free State Highland Games, which will be Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

There are also events where contestants try to throw weights over a bar that gets higher and higher each round, like in a pole vault or high jump. One of these is the sheaf toss, where contestants must use a special pitchfork that Langworthy said is “highly customized” for this specific sport to toss burlap sacks over the bar.

The weights can get quite heavy in some of these competitions. Langworthy noted that one of the weights used in men’s competitions is 56 pounds — or “about your average … 5-year-old.”

Not all of the events at the Free State Highland Games will be Scottish. Alongside the traditional games, Langworthy said there would be a natural stone lifting competition with the Shawnee powerlifting gym Per Aspera Strength that includes a Swiss-style stone-throwing event called “steinstossen.”

But the Scottish spirit will definitely be there. Highland Games typically have a festival atmosphere, and representation of the Scottish clans is a part of that, Langworthy said. He said there would be tents set up at the fairgrounds for different clans so people can learn more about them. There will also be food trucks on site.

Gates for the Free State Highland Games open at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Outdoor Arena of the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or at eventbrite.com; general admission tickets are $5, and there are also VIP tickets available for $50 that include a meet-and-greet with the professional athletes. Children under 12 get in free.

photo by: Contributed Photo

Highland Games athlete Scott Farr prepares to throw a weight in a previous Highland Games competition. He is among the professionals slated to be at the Free State Highland Games, which will be Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

photo by: Contributed Photo

Highland Games athlete Bryce Hall tosses a caber in a previous Highland Games competition. He is among the professionals slated to be at the Free State Highland Games, which will be Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.