Attend the Highland Games

“As I stepped off the shuttle, an American flag and Scottish flag hung high between the trees of the campground we had to walk through and welcomed visitors to the games. There were men in kilts everywhere and the sound of bagpipes being played could be heard all around. It was then that I knew, I was officially at the 64th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. As we walked closer to the official entrance of the Highland games, the sounds of the games grew louder and it became harder to contain my excitement. [...] I looked up and saw Grandfather Mountain standing proud in the distance. It nearly took my breath away.”

“I didn’t dress for the part, join a clan, or toss a caber, but spending the day at the Inverness Highland Games was a highlight of our trip. Here we were completely immersed in the local traditions, culture, and clans of the highlands. I think the entire city and surrounding towns and villages must have all come out to the park for the games. There was dancing, wrestling, flowing beer, meat searing over open fires, soldiers in kilts, break neck foot races, and even an owlery where you could feed and hold your very own owl; and all of this before the games even began!”