Got any plans for Sept. 18? No? Good. Get a few friends together and enter this year's downtown haggis toss. After a hiatus, the Highland Fling is back in Concord with music, games and haggis. Tim Sink, executive director of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce (and an experienced haggis-tosser himself) tells us more.

What is haggis? I don't know exactly, but it has something to do with sheep's bellies. It's a Scottish, um, treat.

Do you use the real thing for the toss? I really can't answer that question.

Any training tips? All I did was get a haggis-toss injury. We were using water bottles (to practice), and I got a sprained finger, so I don't recommend practice. What I do recommend is to show up at the Barley House an hour, half hour early and have a beer or two. That is the best preparation you can do.

This was a big event when the Highland Games were in Hopkinton. Now that they're back at Loon Mountain, why still hold the fling? We are still welcoming a lot of people into the state for the games. And it's an excuse to have fun downtown.

What else will be happening that night? Lots of things. There will be a pipe band. A presentation by John Wallace, a world-class trumpeter. There will be world-class athletes.

MEG HECKMAN

The fling starts at 6 p.m. on the State House lawn. It will run for about an hour. For information or to enter a two-person haggis-toss team, contact the chamber at 224-2509. The event and the toss are free.