Welcome to the Information Page for

The Festival & Games

at the Gatlinburg Scottish Festival & Highland Games 

The Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games is a non-profit organization, Chartered by the State of Tennessee, recognized as a 501(c) 3 Corporation and a member of the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce. This year, 2010 is our 29th games. Celebrating our heritage is what we are about this weekend. We invite you to become part of this event as you involve yourself in all the activities and pageantry we provide. Enjoy each other and take home memories that will carry you until we meet again in 2011.

The 2010 Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games take place on May 14 - 16 at Mills Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The weekend of Scottish activities starts on Friday, May 14th with a mountain stroll on an easy trail in the Smokies. A parade down the Parkway in Gatlinburg starts on Friday evening at 6:00 lead by the Knoxville Pipes and Drums. All Scots are invited to march or ride the trolley in the parade. The parade is followed by a Gala Reception at 8:00 at Quality Inn Creekside. Wear your Scottish best for a sit-down buffet with entertainment and door prizes

Saturday and Sunday events at Mills Park include an all day field Ceilidh (a Scottish music festival), Professional and Amateur Scottish athletics, Individual Piper & Pipe Band performances and competition, and Highland Dance competition. Featured entertainers for 2010 are nationally renowned Scottish musicians; Colin Grant-Adams, Albannach, Thistledown Tinkers and Cutthroat Shamrock.  The Ceilidh Under the Stars will feature some of these same entertainers Saturday evening at the Highland Ceilidh Tent.

There are plenty of events for the kids including the all-new Days Gone By children's program with games, playground equipment, face-painting and much more.

Adults are invited to try throwing the battle axe, the kilted mile, highland wrestling, and the manhood stones. The Clan Challenge highland athletic competition on Saturday is open for public entries as are the Clan Challenge Highland style wrestling, Manhood Stones and the Clan Challenge Kilted Miles.

Bringing a piece of agrarian Scotland to the Smokies, Border Collie demonstrations by Bill Coburn of Laurens, South Carolina are scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday.  Brandy Doggett and her Highland Coos (cows) will also be a key attraction.  Vendors offer a variety of Scottish items, clothing, jewelry, music, and food including meat pies, sausage rolls, bridies and baked goods.

Over 40 clan and heritage societies will offer information about various clans, Scottish history and genealogical information. The honored clan for 2010 is Clan Keith. The parade of tartans on Sunday features all clans represented at the festival marching with tartans and banners symbolic of their clan society.

A Saturday evening's "Ceilidh Under the Stars" will feature many of our entertainers from the day's events, beginning at 7:30 PM it will be festive night of music, fun and fellowship at Mills Park.

 Matt Newsom, a prominent expert on Attire of the 1600-1700 and the Development of the Tartan will be at the Scottish Tartans Museum Tent near the front gate.