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Immerse yourself in all things Scottish at the 49th annual NH Highland Games and Festival from Sept. 20–22 at Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln. Presented by NHSCOT, the NH Highland Games and Festival are considered the largest gathering of Scottish clans in the Northeast.
Each year, the games draw a crowd of more than 35,000 people and welcome 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. “The NH Highland Games and Festival has something for everyone,” said Terri Wiltse, executive director of NHSCOT.
“It’s lots of fun wrapped in a tartan bow!” This year, the NH Highland Games and Festival will introduce an innovative new format for the heavy athletics competition. The event, known as “The Caledonian Clash,” will feature five teams, each with 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, Sept.
21. Each team is named after a region of Scotland and will be co-captained by a Professional Man and a Professional Woman. Teams also will include Masters/Lightweight Man, Masters Woman, Amateur Man, Amateur Woman and an Adaptive Athlete.
The winning team will be awarded the Caledonian Cup trophy. In addition to the heavy athletic competition, the games also provide 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 take place on Friday. 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. 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, is the Royal Multi-Mile, a 5k hill run. This is open to runners and walkers.
Pre-registration will be required. 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.
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 more than 60 Scottish clans while the Historic Encampment showcases everyday life in the Scottish Highlands during the 14th to 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 also will be onsite 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. 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 and Competition on Sunday, which features Scotch ales produced by local breweries across the state. For a complete list of special ticketed events, visit nhscot.
org/special-ticketed -events..
