Smart bets: Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

Posted on by Lea McLellan

Grab your kilt and your clan and get to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games for “blaring bagpipes, astounding athletes and tons of tartan.” The four-day event begins with sheep-herding demonstrations and only gets more Celtic from there. Brawnier participants may enter heavyweight competitions such as “turning the caber” and “tossing the sheaf.” In the caber toss, athletes flip a telephone pole-sized log end over end. The sheaf toss involves lifting a 16-pound sack of hay over a 20-foot bar. Not an athlete? Grab a traditional meat pie and enjoy Scottish dance, music and various other cultural offerings. The games take place Thursday through Sunday, July 10-13, at McCrae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain. $15-$30 day passes, $75 weekend passes. gmhg.org. Photo by Hugh Morton

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About Lea McLellan
Lea McLellan is a freelance writer who likes to write stories about music, art, food, wellness and interesting locals doing interesting things.
View all posts by Lea McLellan →

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