LINVILLE—The 68th year of the Highland Games has come and gone with the closing events of Sunday, July 14. The clans marched, the athletes ran and tossed, the pipers played, and the lassies danced, and as the dust of the fourth and final day settled, thousands had enjoyed a fair share of athletic competition, dulcet tones, food aplenty, and an annual homecoming, which to many is a yearly rite of passage.
The weekend holds a special place in the hearts of those who return to Grandfather Mountain year after year from all corners of the globe.
According to Games officials, preliminary estimates show this year’s event brought roughly 46,000 people and a total of 108 clans to MacRae Meadows during the course of the weekend — converging from all points of the globe and all walks of life, all for the purpose of celebrating and honoring Scottish culture and heritage.
“We had a really great Games in 2024,” said GMHG President Steve Quillin. “Everyone that reported to me said they had a really great time.”
Weather was a non-factor this year, at least in the manner of rain. Higher than usual temperatures were impactful, however, as 2024 was one of the hottest Games on record, as temps soared to 86 degrees on top of the mountain on Saturday, July 13.
As patrons entered through the gates at GMHG, the event might seem somewhat overwhelming. Activities abounded throughout the weekend, from athletic events such as the caber toss to demonstrations of collies and sheep herding occurring simultaneously on the field, all while hearing the sounds of pipers playing for dancers mingling with Scottish Rock ‘n’ Roll fusion from one of the entertainment stages. In some instances, visitors seemed hard-pressed to choose between watching a fiddle competition or taking in an educational program.
For those interested in exploring ancestry, there were many clan tent locations, as well as spots centered on Scottish ancestry that were worth the visit. Deeper research was also available through forging relationships with one of the 100-plus clans encircling the field in attendance at the Games. What began with a spark of curiosity for some bloomed into connecting with family and ancestors, perhaps fitting for a new kilt.
Visitors had an array of shopping options atop the mountain as well. From souvenir T-shirts and broadswords to utility kilts and Celtic jewelry, there was plenty to browse and purchase. That failed even to scratch the surface when it came to the copious food on hand. From haggis to Scotch eggs, hot dogs, pizza, barbecue, and desserts, the assortment of culinary delights and the wafting aroma of the food was so varied that one could attend the entire weekend and not taste the same thing twice. For those who attend again and again, there are always many things that can be expected, but each year presents something new to keep the event interesting.
Some local residents seek to avoid the area during the weekend due to the uptick in traffic, but for those who opted to make the trek up the mountain, patrons and guests found themselves among friends.
Diligently working behind the scenes each year, a veritable army of local employees and volunteers give of themselves to make the Games a success. Handling every logistical aspect of the event from construction, field operations, shuttle buses and parking to ticket and program sales, security and first aid, visitors to the Games from the surrounding area were almost certain to run into someone they know, especially if they come from Avery County.
From the teens and young adults working the field crew to local faces working security at the gates, many of those who joined in this year’s effort have been participating in the Games for years. Some even have parents or grandparents who have worked to make Games of yesteryear a success, making the event something of a family tradition.
As the sun sets on another iteration of “America’s Braemar,” those itching to return can mark the calendar for next year’s 69th annual event, scheduled for Thursday to Sunday, July 10 to 13, the second weekend of July each year, at MacRae Meadows. Taking part not only provides the patron or volunteer the satisfaction of knowing they are helping the community, but one may just learn something about oneself along the way.
Additional images from the Games weekend can be found inside this week’s print edition of The Avery Journal-Times and online at www.averyjournal.com.
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