Atlanta Scottish Games, Any One Else Go?

Well we just finished the Atlanta Scottish Highland Games this weekend.
The weather on Friday looked like there was going to be a problem but it turned cool and clear Sat. a.m.

Our Centerville,Ga Drum and Bugle Corp took 3rd place out of 31 bands so we were not disappointed.

Of course there was alot of whiskey flowing which warmed everyone down to their toes to tap to the wonderful melodies of Smithfield Fair of which there is alot of their music played here on this station...

The games turned out a new record breaker for Sheep tossing with Mike Nease at 33ft and 7 inches. New world record. Now Mike use to be a professional football players so I'm sure that helps explain his size and abilities.

After hours of pipers and drums here in the camp grounds of Stone Mt Campground the celebration of our heretage is alive and well here in the US.

Lord and Lady Flythe, the 13th Duke of Flythe who was one of the honorable lords attending from Scotland said this was one of the biggest celebrations of Scottish Heritage he had ever seens in 4 years he had been attending and declared it to be "little scotland of the south".

This year we had a record attendance and unbelieveable number of English pastry dealers making food like crazy...everyone turned out fat and sassy at the end of the day eating...the whiskey didn't hurt either. The English ladies that cooked were so helpful and suggested different types of sweets so you got a over all selection...Lemon cake to raspberry filled scones with confectonary sugar and nuts on top, yum yum!
A Great Day for Celebrating!

If you were not with us today, consider attending next year... 3rd weekend of every October. A terrific time and enjoyable people out at the campgrounds. And the music is unplanned but free and unrestricted. Made you want to dance. Come on over next year! The more the merrier! As you lay down at night and hear the lonely piper play the last melody for the evening, you Thank God you are part or more Scottish and can slip into a wonderous sleep.

In all things Scottish,
Annabelle

I wish but just far enough away to make th etrip hard. I live near Savannah just on the SC side of the border so is like a 5 hour drive but maybe someday.

Ughhhhh

Stone mountain 2003 is over....it was quite a ride for us ....(pun intended) our Org
came to stone mountain for the first time this year so we rented a Bus and drove the 9 plus hours up and got ehre on Sat morn at 7 to set up... i think Stone is obne of the better games in the south east..Grandfather is just...to much I was adopted in the the wild highlanders Sat as well..needless to say im feeling some pain Today

Scottish2 it would have been worth the 5 hour drive. I use to live in Charleston and it's not such a bad trip...car got lights?

Games are always the 3rd Weekend of October so put it down on your calendar next year.

Great for families and they start teaching the kids how to do some of the games. The little kids are really cute when they get out there...
This year was one of the largest attended and seems to grow larger every year.

The Chaplin who performed the church service Sunday morning sumed up the festival nicely...he described it as "A celebration of our Heritage". Good service too.

Hope to see many of you there next year...

Annabelle

it's not the legnth of the drive 5 hours is nothing but the time period as been quite busy lately so hard to get away for the time needed.

Just do it man!
Gee isn't that a commercial?
Annabelle

Collin King hang in there. The day is almost over! Great Festival ! Kills you on Monday's ...
Annabelle

That's something I miss about home. Out here in Alberta, there's not much in the way of Highland games. But in my hometown, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, they have the longest running Highland games in the new world, and one of the oldest in the entire world. Not to say that we've been doing it longer than the Scots, that's just foolish. But many of those games died off, or aren't happening where they used to.

Anyway, point is I would love to see some of those games again. They have them on OLN once in a while, but not very often. And the Cabre event is a lot different than I remember. They toss it up to see how close they can get to 90* vertical with a much longer Cabre. Back home it's the traditional 12:00 toss. Who knows.

Are there many places in the States where they hold these events?

I think we need a CelticRadio festival...we get all of the band people to come and play. I have 10 acres out in the middle of no where here outside of Macon Ga and call out for pizza and whiskey

Annabelle

Annabelle, Is that where you're going to build the Scottish bar?

Did someone say pizza??? I'm so there! Sausage or pepperoni for me! Better not be from Domino's, though. The cardboard box would be tastier. I'll bring the special Corona Nation blend of Corona , & I'll try to get Janet to bring some Janetanian limes to go with the cervèza (did I get it right, Leo?).

Has to be good pizza, NY style, deep dish! Corona with limes and chips and salsa.
Annabelle

Hi Annabelle.

Can you learn me something about Scotland.
I come from the Netherlands.

greetings, Erie

Erie Class is now in session - so listen up I be teach-en here!

the most important things you MUST learn about Scotland is:

#1 You have to wear a kilt

#2 You must learn to drink Whiskey

#3 Honor above all else Robert De Bruce and William Wallace

#4 Call all girls "Lass", makes their hearts go pitter patter

#5 and Don't ask McHaggis about his Blue Ribbon's

and you'll learn alot.

On a serious Note purchase start by buying a few historical books. My favorite is and always has been "History of Scotland" by Cliff Hanley.
It has a famous painting on the front which is my favorite "Culloden" by David Morier....This painting hangs in Inverness Scotland and I have never been able to find a copy of it...

Annabelle

Hi Annabelle. I am new here, although not new to things Celtic.

I was at Stone Mountain on Saturday. I go every year! I live in Northwest Georgia, so it is only about an hour and a half's drive for me.

For thoseof you nearby who are interested in more than just Scottish Highland Games, Atlanta also has a great Celtic Festival in May held at Oglethorpe University, and a nearby town (Gainesville) has a GROWING one held in August. Both are WELL WORTH the effort.

But Stone Mountain is great.....only second to Grandfather mountain according to many!


Slainte,


Alan