PRESS INFO
July 17, 2024
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Get Your Scot On at the 49th Annual NH Highland Games & Festival
September 20 – 22 at Loon Mountain Resort, Lincoln, NH
LINCOLN, N.H. – Immerse yourself in all things Scottish at the 49th Annual NH Highland Games & Festival, September 20 – 22 at Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln, NH. Presented by NHSCOT, the NH Highland Games & Festival are considered the largest gathering of Scottish clans in the Northeast. Each year, the Games draws a crowd of more than 35,000 people and welcomes visitors, competitors, and vendors from around the world.
With the theme of “Get Your Scot On,” this three-day celebration showcases the sights, sounds, and spirit of Scotland through pageantry, music, dance, traditional heavy athletics, beer and whisky tastings, and historical reenactments, and more.
“The NH Highland Games & Festival has something for everyone,” expressed Terri Wiltse, Executive Director of NHSCOT. “It’s lots of fun wrapped in a tartan bow!”
NEW! The Caledonian Clash, A Heavy Athletics Team Competition
This year, the NH Highland Games & Festival will introduce an innovative new format for the heavy athletics competition. The event, known as “The Caledonian Clash,” will feature five teams, each comprising of seven athletes, who will compete in seven traditional heavy athletic events: the Braemar Stone, Open Stone, Heavy Weight for Distance, Light Weight for Distance, Weight Over Bar, Sheaf Toss, and fan favorite, the Caber Toss. The Caledonian Clash will take place on Saturday, September 21.
Each team is named after a region of Scotland and will be co-captained by a Professional Man & a Professional Woman. Teams will also include Masters/Lightweight Man, Masters Woman, Amateur Man, Amateur Woman, and an Adaptive Athlete. The winning team will be awarded the Caledonian Cup trophy.
- Team Hebridean: a collection of 40 Scottish islands and celebrates love of the sea.
- Team Trossachs: a heavily forested, mountainous region of Scotland.
- Team Clyde: representative of a large Scottish river and is connected to ship building.
- Team Reiver: the name for raiders in the borderlands between Scotland & England.
- Team Argylls: Argylls is a region, but it’s also the fabric pattern which was developed as a symbol of rebellion. The fiercest clan (Campbell) is from this region.
In addition to the heavy athletic competition, the Games also provides a venue for pipers, drummers, harpists, fiddlers and dancers to compete and compare skills. These competitions take place throughout the weekend and are open for public viewing. The Sheep Dog Trials are another exciting competitive element of the Games, which only takes place on Friday.
Live Music and Entertainment All Weekend
From Celtic rock to traditional Scottish songs and ballads, attendees can experience a variety of musical performances throughout the weekend. A crowd favorite is Massed Bands, a ceremonial performance featuring two-dozen pipe and drum bands gathering to perform in unison.
Additional musicians scheduled to perform this year include Albannach, Skerryvore, Syr, Rebel Collective, Prydein, and Charlie Zahm.
Hands-On Try It Classes and 5K Run
Try It classes are a popular offering at the Games that continue to expand each year. This year, NHSCOT has introduced two new Try Its: Caber Toss and All Things Rugby. Additional Try Its cover topics including learning to play a Scottish instrument, mastering the steps of Highland Dance or Scottish country dancing, taking a Gaelic lesson, playing a round of street curling, or matching up with a friend for a round of mas wrestling (swingle tree).
Also new on Sunday morning, the Royal multi-Mile, a 5k hill run. This is open to runners and walkers. Pre-registration will be required.
Demonstrations and Seminars Abound
Highland Games weekend offers plenty of opportunities to engage with Scottish culture through hands-on activities and seminars, suitable for all ages. NHSCOT welcomes the return of Gary Maclean, Scotland’s National Chef, and winner of MasterChef: The Professionals, who will host cooking demonstrations throughout the weekend.
Coinneach MacLeod is a new face at the Games. Known as the Hebridean Baker, MacLeod was born and raised on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland and rose to fame on TikTok by bringing the best of the Scottish islands to a worldwide audience. Attendees can enjoy lively performances and singalongs with the Hebridean Baker throughout the weekend.
Laura Goodman, a professional historian, guide, and storyteller from Scotland will be enthralling guests with tales of Scotland. Carol Soules from Miles Smith Farm (Loudon, NH) will be attending the Games on Friday and Sunday with her Scottish Highland Cows in tow. David Brody (Laconia, NH) will be sharing Scottish history, including Prince Henry Sinclair and the Exploration of America Before Columbus.
Bishop Burnham Hall will host a seminar about the uniqueness of Celtic Christianity. Christina Sinclair will join the Games for a discussion surrounding the important conservation work of the Edinburgh World Heritage organization, and Ross McEwen will share fascinating details about Scottish clans, heraldry, lore, legend and law. NHSCOT will also be holding a seminar with Collette Tours to discuss an upcoming guided tour to Scotland in 2025.
Experience the Pageantry of Scotland Across Festival Grounds
Across the grounds, festivalgoers can absorb the culture and fares of Scotland. A stroll through Clan Village allows guests to discover their Scottish roots by talking with representatives of 60+ Scottish clans while the Historic Encampment showcases everyday life in the Scottish Highlands during the 14th – 18th centuries.
Vendor Village is home to more than 30 vendors selling tartan wearables, traditional Scottish sweets, bagpiping supplies, and various other Celtic items. Food vendors will also be on-site selling a range of Scottish cuisine: Scotch Eggs, meat pies, scones, shortbreads, and more, giving attendees a chance to explore the flavors of Scotland. Beer tents will be set up throughout the venue.
Special Ticketed Events to Enhance Your Experience
Attendees can elevate their Games experience through a variety of Special Ticketed Events showcasing Scottish food and drink, musical performances, and dinners with entertainment. These events take place both during the Games as well as after hours.
Popular Special Ticketed Events include the Tartan Dinner and Ball on Friday evening, the Saturday Night Concert – this year’s performers include Albannach and Skerryvore – and the Scotch Ale Tasting & Competition on Sunday, which features Scotch Ales produced by local breweries across the state.
For a complete list of Special Ticketed Events, visit https://nhscot.org/special-ticketed-events/.
Ticket Information
The NH Highland Games & Festival offers single-day tickets and 3-day weekend passes. Tickets are available online at nhscot.org. Advance ticket purchases are recommended to expedite gate entrance. Single-day Saturday tickets sell out early.
Ticket prices are $40 for Friday admission; $64 for Saturday admission; $40 for Sunday admission and $100 for 3-day weekend passes. Single-day tickets for children ages 6 to 14 are $5; 3-day weekend passes for children ages 6 to 14 are $10. Children 5 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. NHSCOT is the only official seller of tickets for the Games.
Attendees have access to festival grounds from 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. daily; additional ticketed evening events will be held at various onsite and offsite locations throughout the weekend. The event is held rain or shine. Pets are not allowed on the grounds or in vehicles. Service dogs are admitted.
The NH Highland Games are presented by NHSCOT, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving and promoting Scottish culture for future generations. The success of these Games, now in its 49th year, is a testimony to the enduring and welcoming spirit of this organization. Additional information is available on NHSCOT’s website: nhscot.org.