10-1: Tennessee Highland Games

For the past 10 years, the call of the clans to come gather in Middle Tennessee has gone out. As the fall colors creep over the Cumberland Plateau, you will hear the sounds of bagpipes coming through the early morning mist and see kilt-clad folk scurry to put the final touches on the clan display tents. It’s the first weekend in October.

Welcome to the Tennessee Highland Games located on the grounds of the TN Renaissance Festival site in Triune. It is a private party for all Scots, want-to-be Scots and anyone interested in Scottish history and influences in America. Everyone is invited to take part.

In 1994, a group of interested individuals formed the Heart of Tennessee Scottish Celebration, Inc. The sole purpose of this organization is to plan and conduct the Tennessee Highland Games scheduled annually for the first weekend in October. The purpose of this event is to demonstrate and educate people about the culture and history of Scotland and families who have immigrated from Scotland and Ireland.

This year, the clans will meet for the 10th anniversary at the Tennessee Renaissance Festival Grounds in Triune. The location is 12 miles west of Murfreesboro off Highway 96 and almost half way between Murfreesboro and Franklin. The layout is in a wooded area with paths that wander through the clan tent areas, the vendors, and the entertainment areas and lead to the main athletic field and highland dance stage. You will enter through the front gate and experience the entire event by visiting the many activities and clans you will meet along the paths.

During the day, there will be a Parade of Tartans representing some 50 clans who have come to provide information and help people find which clan family they belong to. The Highland Dance competition brings dancers from all over the United States, Canada and Great Britain. This year in addition to our award winning Highland Dance area, we have added for your enjoyment Irish Step Dancers on Sunday.

The heavy athletic events will be at the amateur level and will include the Clachneart or Stone Throw, Tossing the Sheaf, the Weight Toss and the Weight Throw and, of course, Turning the Caber. These activities will occur in an open area so everyone has a great view.

At the main field, people will be enjoying the Haggis Hurl, the Bonniest Knees contest, the Shortbread contest, the Whisky Barrel Races, and the clan challenge Tug of War. Axe Throwing will be in a special area, so bring your own or use one of ours, but come to compete.

A children’s area is a very popular spot for children and adults alike. Throughout the day there will be face painting, roving magicians, putting contests, and other fun activities for the young at heart. A contest called the Great Passport Search is a big hit each year. Each child is given a passport to collect stamps from every clan tent. They are then in the running for a prize at the end of the day. This activity will be on Sunday only. The wee athletes are not forgotten – a Relay Race, the Haggis Hurl, a Caber Toss and a Tug-O-War go on through the day.

All five Tennessee Pipe Bands will be performing throughout the day. World renowned Scottish Band The Tannahill Weavers will be performing on Saturday and will set everyone’s feet to tapping. On Saturday and Sunday, we will be entertained by world famous Scottish folk singer Alex Beaton, doing his usual wonderful job of entertaining the crowds with his special blend of Scottish music that only a native Scot can bring to the mix. Another well-known native Scottish folk singer, Colin Grant Adams will add his special talent and rapport with the audience to the weekends activities, bringing joy to all audiences.

On Sunday we have added a special entertainment to our event by having several local musicians show their wares to the crowd. This year will be joined by fiddlers, Logan and Conner Coleman, fiddler Gretchen May and the local Celtic band, Furies and Friends.

The 78th Frasers Regiment of Foot will be giving firing demonstrations on both days. The Scottish American Military Society will serve as our color guard for the weekend as they have since we began ten years ago.

On Saturday, there are various seminars at a specially marked education tent. The titles of these seminars are: The 78th Frasers – History of the Unit; Candy Rawlins & Terri Weems – Spinning/Weaving; Joe Kerr – Scots on the American Frontier; James A. McDonald – Genealogy; Jason Simpson – Gaelic The Easy Way.