Highland Games continue at Grandfather Mountain

LINVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A summer staple on the Blue Ridge returned this weekend. 

The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games resume at 8 a.m. Saturday at MacRae Meadows. It’s the first Scottish athletics competition since Hurricane Helene devastated the region last fall. 

Grandfather Mountain State Park was closed for over a month to recover from the damage. 

Here some highlights of Saturday’s activities: 

8 a.m. 
• “Elite” Women Heavy Athletics Qualifying begins
• Atlantic International Championship  

8:30 p.m.
• “Professional” Class Heavy Athletics begins 
• Piping competition begins / Hillside & Infield 

10 a.m.
• Celtic Groves entertainment begins  
• The Darien Fiasco-The Rise and Fall of a Scottish Empire 

11 a.m.
• Opening Ceremony 
• Whisky Tasting 

12:10 p.m.
• Track & Field competition begins 

• Sheep Dog Demonstration 

2:30 p.m.
• Sheep Dog Demonstration  
• MacBeth vs. The Bard – A Case of Libel

6:30-10 p.m. 
• Saturday Night Celtic Jam Concert / Gates 2 & 3 open at 6 p.m. 
• Voices of Valverda / Strathspan / Ed Miller Trio / Seán Heely Celtic Band 

The games, which began on Thursday, conclude on Sunday. 

Tickets may be purchased day of on the field with cash or credit. Those attendees will have to shuttle up during day events. 

Shuttles to access the games are $10 and are available at Avery County high School, Linville Lowes Foods parking lot, Miller’s Gap, and Newland Elementary School (handicap parking only).

For more information, visit the Highland Games website