Middle Tennessee Highland Games Takes Place in Hendersonville Sept 10-11

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photo: midtenngames.com

This year the Middle Tennessee Highland Games and Celtic Festival will take place at Sanders Ferry Park on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville. All of the traditional activities will once again be part of the celebration of all things Scottish and Celtic on September 10 and September 11, 2022.

“[W]e are excited about our new venue on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tennessee,” says the Festival website. “We have been working with Sumner County and now are very thankful and proud that Sumner County Tourism has decided to offer us a great sponsorship. We believe that our visitors from out of town will enjoy their time in Sumner County and that we have entered into a long and successful partnership.”

For six years, families have come together for this event that celebrates Scottish music, dancing, athletic events, and clan membership. It is a way to honor and preserve the rich history of the many families who settled in the Middle Tennessee area after leaving their homeland many generations ago. The oldest continuous Highland Games began in 1314 A. D. and takes place in Ceres Games in Fife, Scotland.

Live Celtic bands playing both classical and contemporary music will be on hand on two stages. The Main Stage will play host to Fiddle Frenzy, The Sternwheelers, Flatfoot 56, Marc Gunn, Doon the Brae, Tuatha Dea, and Nosey Flynn. On the Traditional Stage The Secret Commonwealth, Colin Grant-Adams, Clare Cunningham, and Barrenhart will play.

Other entertainment includes traditional Scottish dancing on the Dance Stage. Glengarry and Sinclair Highland Dancers, Nashville Irish Music School, and Nashville Irish Step Dancers will be performing on the Dance Stage. There will also be Haggis Toss and Bonniest Knees competitions on this stage on Sunday.

Both days there will be a full slate of solo piping, drumming and pipe band competitions in the designated Piping and Drumming area of the park. Solo pipers compete in what is called a “piobaireachd”, pronounced pea-brook, or classic form competition. The tune begins with a simple melody called the ground which then builds into more complex movements through each variation to culminate in a flourish. Pipers also perform what is called “Ceol Beg” in Gaelic, which consists of marches, strathspeys and reels. Competitors are judged on the ability to stay in tune, play with precision and expression, and keep proper timing.

Drummers compete with sets of marchs, strathspey, reels, hornpipes and jigs. They are normally accompanied by a solo piper. Drummers are judged by their musicality, dynamics, precision, and time keeping. There are three levels of pipe band competition, each playing a medley of types of music. They are judged on musicality, and the ability to stay in unison and keep correct timing.

Athletic events are also an important part of the Festival. The roots of the founding of games are said to go back to 2000 B.C. as means of developing the skills needed to be a warrior, but the first written reference of them, as noted by scotsman.com,  is that during the reign of King Malcolm III (1057-1093 A.D.)… he summoned men to race up Craig Choinnich near Braemar in order to find a royal messenger. The games are said to have become a way of choosing the “…ablest men for the clan chieftain’s household…”

The athletic events pit both male and female amateur athletes in the Stone Put, Caber Toss, Hammer Throw, Sheaf Toss, and Weight throws. The Stone Put is similar to a shotput, although it was originally a large rock. Hammer Throws are judged on distance and speed. A Caber is a wood pole that is 19 feet six inches in length and weighs about 175 pounds. Competition is done in a kilt by both sexes. A sheaf is a burlap bag filled with straw and tossed above a competitor’s head with a pitchfork over a pole. The person throwing the sheaf the highest without hitting the pole wins. Weights thrown vary between 14 and 56 depending on the sex of the individual in the competition and the class they are in.

There will also be a parade of clans, clan booths, merchant booths, traditional foods, and a Kids Zone with character visits, a musical petting zoo, arts and crafts, highland games for kids, archery and Quiddich.

In an article on scottishbanner.com, the event was described as, “… a three-ring circus of Celtic Culture. The anchor to the event is the Heavy Scottish Athletic competition. It is supported by a Scottish Clan … vendors of Celtic products, and yummy foods, plus two tents of soft and alcoholic beverages. We have a large Kids Zone, and demonstrations in Highland and Irish dance, tartan weaving, and Birds of Prey. And of course, we will have numerous bagpipe and drum teams and a solo bagpipe competition…”

Currently, Weekend Passes are on sale. They are $35 for adults and $12 for children six through 12. Kids under six are free. A Patron Pass is also available for $150. It includes admission to both days, as well as a private viewing area for the athletic events, a shaded sitting area, a catered lunch, unlimited water and a collectable pin. Times are 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 10 and 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on September 11. Organizers suggest bringing a blanket and/or lawn chair, and lots of water.

The Middle Tennessee Highland Games and Celtic Festival is looking for volunteers. This year they will be providing t-shirts to their volunteers so festival patrons can find them in the crowd. Opportunities include the Kids Zone, Merchandise Tent, Athletics, Golf Cart driving, and set-up on Friday.

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