37th Annual Stone Mountain Highland Games Coming in October

October 17 – 18, 2009 At Stone Mountain Park

For 37 years, the picturesque grounds of the Stone Mountain Park meadow, a short drive northeast of Atlanta, Georgia, have resounded with the sounds of bagpipes, fiddles and harps during the third weekend in October.

This year once again, thousands of Scots (even those that wish to be 'Scot for the Day') from around the world will don their family tartans and gather to greet old friends and make new ones too.

Barry's Tip: This is one of the largest Highland Games festivals in the area and attracts guests from neighboring states and all across the Southeast. You don't have to be Scottish to have fun at this popular festival -everyone is welcome. Get to the Park early and make a day out of this family-oriented festival.

The Highland Games have a long history and are held throughout the year in Scotland and many other countries to celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture. It is believed that formal gatherings began around 1820 as a revival of Tartan and Highland culture. The games are centered around sporting activities, but have grown to include many different aspects of Scottish culture.

There are many exciting events happening throughout the day and great festival food as always. The Athletic Competitions are always fun to watch, especially the Caber Toss, where participants demonstrate their strength and skill by tossing heavy logs into the air. Visit the marketplace for a chance to pick up a variety of clothing, books, music and everything Scottish.

You'll find a variety of different activities on Saturday and Sunday, so you may want to plan on attending both days. The Parade of Tartans on Sunday afternoon is a must-see and a colorful finale for the festival. Give yourself and your family plenty of time to stroll around the grounds. You'll find wonderful Celtic music performed live and dancing throughout the festival grounds. And of course, bag pipers will fill Stone Mountain with their sweet sounds. Look out for performance schedules to make sure you don't miss your favorites.

Events held over the weekend include:

- Highland Athletic Competition
- Pipe Band Performances
- Country Dance Demonstrations
- Musical Stage Performances
- Parade of Tartans
- Falconry Flight Demonstration
- The Kilted Mile
- Scottish Shops and Artisans
- Much More!

For more info, visit Stone Mountain Highland Games.