Founded:
1956 by Agnes MacRae Morton and former Charlotte News reporter Donald
MacDonald.
Sponsoring Organization:
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Inc.
Mission:
GMHG is a nonprofit, non-stock corporation licensed under the laws of
North Carolina to carry on and promote the annual Grandfather Mountain
Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans, to foster and restore
interest in traditional dancing, piping, athletic achievement and Gaelic
culture, and to create and establish scholarship funds to assist students
from Avery County High School to study at American colleges and universities.
Event Dates: July
10-13, 2008
Always held on the second full weekend in July. The earliest the Games
will occur is July 6-9 (in years when the first of July falls on a Saturday)
and the latest it occurs is July 12-15 (in years when the first of July
falls on a Sunday). July 9-12, 2009
Location:
US Highway 221, two miles north of Linville, NC, and one mile south
of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 305.
- Named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.
- Scottish author/historian David Ross will be in Grove 3 to deliver talks on weapons, clothing, history & heritage.
Number of Scottish Clans
and Societies Participating: 160
Number of Clan Tents Ringing the Field: 172
Estimated Annual Attendance: 30,000
2008 Distinguished Guest: Sir Michael Maxwell, Baronet of Clan Maxwell
2008 Special Guest: John Batty, noted Scottish lecturer, historical consultant and weaponry expert. Former Curatorial Assistant with the National Trust for Scotland.
Staffing:
4 full-time employees on GMHG payroll
104 seasonal employees on GMHG payroll
6 nonprofit organizations providing support services
Nonprofit Organizations and Services Provided:
- Crossnore Volunteer Fire Department: Shuttle Bus Service
- Linville Central Rescue Squad: Parking, Concessions, First Aide Tent
- Newland Volunteer Fire Department: Concessions, First Responder
- Hospice of Avery: Concessions, Handicap Helpers
- Avery Citizens Against Domestic Abuse: Ticket Sales, Checkers & Greeters
- Kiwanis of Banner Elk: Souvenir Program Sales
Featured Highland Bagpipe Bands in 2008:
- Grandfather Mountain Highlanders
- The City of Charleston Police Pipes and Drums
- Blue Ridge Brass & Pipes
- Loch Norman Pipe Band
- Montreat Scottish Pipes & Drums
- North Carolina State University Pipes & Drums
- Alex Beaton (Soloist and Scotland's premier entertainer)
-
Ed Miller with Jill Chambless and Scooter Muse (Scottish folk)
-
Jim Malcolm (Award-winning Scottish singer/songwriter)
- Albannach (Glasgow, Scotland, primative Pictish drumming)
-
The Killdares (Texas, hard driving Celtic rock)
- Coyote Run, (Williamsburg, VA, Gaelic rock-esque folk)
- Mother Grove ( Noblesville, IN, high energy Kilt Rock)
- Barleyjuice (Philadelphia, PA, Celtic rock)
- R.G. Absher & Celtic Connection (Celtic and Appalachian music)
- David Ross (Scottish author & historian)
- Joshua Aldridge - GMHG Scholar, NC State University
- Ryan Aldridge - GMHG Hugh Morton Scholar, NC State University
- Jennifer Mayberry - Lees McRae College
- Geoffrey Werth - NC State University
- Sharayah Smith - Western Carolina University
- Stephanie Watson - Appalachian State University
- Erin Grindstaff – Mayland Community College
- Ian Murray - Appalachian State University
- Courtney Henderson - Appalachian State University
- April Barrier - Dental Hygiene
- Hope Jennings - Pre-Med
- Joshua Costner - Western Carolina University
- Kate Taylor - Business/ Criminal Justice
- Holly Mottern - Political Science
- Dixon Wright – James Madison University
- Phoebe Shoemaker – Mayland Community College/UNC Wilmington
- Nate Davis – Duke University
- Thomas Pittman – GMHG Hugh Morton Scholar, Mayland/Appalachian State University
- Brittany Thomas – Lees McCrae College
- Megan Norman – Appalachian State University
- Tiffany Franckowiak – Mayland Community College
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P.O. Box 129 - US 221 & Blue Ridge Parkway - Linville, NC - 28646
Phone 800-468-7325 Fax: 828-733-2608 Email: info@grandfather.com
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