Lads and lassies are welcome to attend the annual Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia! This Scottish festival in Blairsville has been around for 17 years and draws in nearly 17,000 visitors, which speaks for itself. Join family clans and fellow Scots to celebrate their Scottish roots and maybe find your own this summer at this annual North Georgia event!
Demonstrations with shepherd dogs, falcons, weaponry, bagpipes, traditional dance, and historical dress are neat, and there’s a parade with bands and tartans to kick off the Scottish festival! Athletes compete in classic Scottish Highland Games, like tossing logs and straw-stuffed bags, while tents invite you to learn more about Scottish culture and heritage. Plus, there are activities just for kids, Scottish foods, and Scottish wares. And it’s all happening in Meeks Park — June 10-11, 2023!
Things to Do at the Blairsville Scottish Festival
Parade
Kick things off at noon on Saturday at the upbeat parade filled with Scottish tartans and massed bands with bagpipes and drums. It’s a great way to get into the Celtic spirit with family and friends at the Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games event!
Highland Games
Featuring 3 classes, including Amateur A, Amateur B, and Masters, the Highland Games in Blairsville welcomes clans of all experience levels to give it their all at this classic Scottish competition. Games include the following.
- Caber toss — hurling logs
- Open stone
- Heavy/lightweight for distance
- Weight for height
- Heavy hammer
- Sheaf toss — throwing straw-filled bags with a pitchfork!
Music & Dance
Visitors at the Blairsville Scottish Festival are encouraged to bring their instruments to participate in informal jam sessions throughout Meeks Park. Concerts are also held and feature traditional musicians and Highland dancers, drum bands, and more. Workshops are also available to learn more about bagpipes, the Scottish fiddle, the Scottish harp, and traditional Scottish country dancing.
Enjoy live music? Come back to Meeks Park in October for the annual Blairsville Sorghum Festival!
Reenactments & Weaponry
Historical reenactments are a specialty of Clann Nan Con who focuses on sharing what it must have been like as an early Scottish settler in North Georgia or a warrior for Scottish independence. Clothes, weapons, and accouterments are accurate to the period portrayed, and they remain in character for an authentic experience — showcasing Scottish athletes, a parade of tartans, axe throwing, blacksmithing, and more.
Shepherd Dogs & Falconry
Something wild at the Blairsville Scottish Festival is the shepherd dog and falconry demonstrations. Watch border collies herd sheep with subtle cues and spot-on performance. And check out falcons soaring in the sky as one of the noblest hunters and friends to mankind.
Genealogy
Curious if you’re related to the infamous MacGregor Clan? Find your Scottish roots at the Scottish Tartans Museum tent and visit many clan tents at the Scottish festival to learn more about clan heritage.
Activities for Kids
The Children’s Area at the Blairsville Scottish Festival features the Scottish Castle Space Walk, face painting with Scottish emblems, children’s golf, and age-appropriate Highland Games (6-12)! There’s also a train with a live conductor that runs along the banks of Butternut Creek.
Note: children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Food & Souvenirs
Plenty of food (including haggis) and souvenir vendors will be available to purchase yummy Scottish, British, and American cuisine as well as Celtic-inspired items, local arts and crafts, archery goods, clothing, and fantasy art!
Blairsville Scottish Festival 2023 Details
Dates
June 10-11, 2023 (Saturday & Sunday)
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Admission — at the Gate ONLY
Purchase tickets at one of 6 gates at the venue. Group ticket purchases are available by contacting the festival chair. And parking is free!
- Adults (13+) — $20/day
- Wee lads & lassies (12 & under) — FREE
Location
Meeks Park (off Highway 515)
490 Meeks Park Road
Blairsville, GA 30512
Insider tip: check out the Blairsville Scottish Festival map before you go!
Contact
706.258.8289
Blairsville Scottish Festival Official Site
For more info, contact the Blairsville Union County Chamber of Commerce at 877.745.5789.
Where to Stay
Dancing, playing, and merry-making at the annual Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games means you’ll need an inviting and relaxing place to stay in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia. At Georgia Cabins for YOU, choose from an array of mountain view cabins, pet-friendly properties, family-size vacation homes, and large group lodges — complete with homey conveniences and bonus amenities!
Draw a spa bath in the indoor jetted tub or slip into the steamy hot tub outside after walking around the festival all day. Still energized from all the festivities? Play games in the rec room, mix drinks at the wet bar, or pop in a Blu-ray for movie night in the theater. Sip wine in the rockers, cook out on the grill, or unwind in the outdoor lounge. When it’s time to hit the hay, snooze in a king or queen suite. Book online or at 1.800.5805524 today!
Grab your kilt, book your stay in North Georgia, and experience the Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games this summer!
