HIAWASSEE – Reflecting its change to a new venue this year, the Blairsville Scottish Festival has become the Georgia Mountain Scottish Festival and Highland Games, as clarified by Festival Entertainment Chair Greg Beyer at the weekly meeting of the Mountain Movers and Shakers Friday, March 4.
Set for the weekend of June 7-8 in 2025, the festival traces its inception to a community service project initially undertaken in 2002, with the first festival and games held inside Meeks Park of Union County in 2004.
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Beyer said that, while there have been rumors the relocation and rebranding were due to political disagreements, the decision last August to move the festival to the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds was actually made for practical reasons.
“We are a victim of our own success; we ran out of space at Meeks Park in Blairsville,” said Beyer, adding that, among other issues, organizers were running out of room to put participating clans, and an increase in traffic had raised safety concerns.
Ultimately, the move will enable growth so the festival can reach its full potential, Beyer said. Of the nine recognized sports commonly practiced at Highland games, only five could be held at the former location. But in the roadside ballfield at the Fairgrounds, there will be plenty of space to hold a wider variety of activities.
So far, 60 athletes are slated to compete in the games, to include judging for both men and women’s categories. Featured will be heavy and light hammer toss, weight throw over bar, open stone throw, Braemer stone throw, light weight throw for distance, heavy weight for distance, sheaf throw and the ever-popular caber toss.
Animals have always been a part of the Scottish Festival, and that’s not going to change with the new venue. Beyer promised falconry displays will make a return, as well as traditional Scottish livestock such as the beloved Highland “coo.”
Clever border collies, too, have impressed guests for years with their herding abilities. They’ll be steering sheep in 2025, but there have also been talks of more fully embracing the role canines played among the ancient Scots via more breeds on display in the future.
And there will be room for more food vendors; only five participated in years past, and Beyer revealed that this resulted in complaints about long lines. The Fairgrounds allow for 15 food vendors, and permanent booths get rid of the need for “disruptive” generators.
This goes for artisans as well, to be situated among the clans throughout the village portion of the Fairgrounds. To date, there are 34 clans registered, with more expected by the onset of summer, seeing as last year topped out at 42. Meanwhile, 38 vendors have signed up so far to attend.
This year, a cèilidh – pronounced “KAY-lee” – will serve as the opening ceremony and a sort of “meet and greet” for athletes and performers. Held at Hamilton Gardens inside the Fairgrounds on June 6 at 6 p.m., the Appalachian St. Andrew’s Pipes and Drums Band will offer a preview of their performances due for the upcoming weekend.
“It’s a folk party that they throw when they’re not throwing a full festival in Scotland,” Beyer explained after playfully inviting Movers and Shakers to pronounce the Gaelic word. Along with the pipes and drums, Beyer said two bands will take to the stage to provide additional entertainment.
Admission to the cèilidh is free, excluding meal prices. That said, admission to the Georgia Mountain Scottish Festival and Highland Games is $20 per person on Saturday, $10 per person on Sunday, or $25 for both days.
Children ages 7 to 12 can get tickets for $5, with children 6 and under getting in for free. Groups of 10 or more people can purchase tickets at $15 per person.
Events start at 9 a.m. on both days, and the opening ceremony of the massed bands and tartan parade will begin at noon on June 7.
