MARYVILLE, Tenn. – The sounds of bagpipes will once again fill the Smoky Mountains this May, so grab your kilt and get ready to immerse yourself in all things Scottish at the 33rd annual Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games. The Festival will be held May 16-18, 2014 on the campus of Maryville College, and is East Tennessee’s premier celebration of Scottish culture and history. There is a long tradition of Scottish culture in East Tennessee, and many of the area’s early settlers were Scots-Irish. It is estimated that more than one million Tennesseans are descended from Scots-Irish ancestry.
“The festival is a great family event that brings the Scottish Clans together to celebrate their heritage, as well as educate and entertain those who aren’t of Scottish descent,” said Tami Vater, director of tourism for the Blount Partnership.
Tickets to the 2014 Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games are now available online at www.smokymountaingames.org. There are several ticket packages to choose from with significant early purchase discounts. Children under 14 are admitted free, and there is a supervised children’s play area with games, face painting, and family activities.
“For centuries, traditional Highland games revolved around athletic competition, which is still an integral part of the Festival today – but we offer so much more.” said Dan Greaser, President of the Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games. The festival will include many activities and events, such as Highland dancing, pipes and drums, musical entertainers, food and merchandise, clans, heritage organizations, animal exhibits, sheep dog herding demonstrations, and much more.
Music is everywhere at the Festival and in addition to all the pipes and drums, two performance stages will showcase the best in both modern and traditional Celtic music. Seven Nations, whose modern sound has thrilled international audiences, will headline the Main Stage, which also includes the fiddling and dancing sisters of Maidens IV, the tribal sounds of Pictus, and local favorites Four Leaf Peat. For those who prefer a more traditional sound, Scottish balladeer Colin Grant Adams leads an impressive slate of entertainers on the Acoustic Stage. An evening Ceilidh (concert) with all the bands is the climax of Saturday’s musical program.
Festival-goers will also enjoy traditional Scottish foods and offerings from the British Isles such as meat pies, shortbreads, and haggis. The merchandise vendors are specially chosen, and offer Scottish, Irish, and Celtic goods not normally found in stores, with everything from leather and jewelry to kilts and sporrans.
To round out the Scottish Festival experience, there is a Dinner and Gala on Friday evening and two Scotch tasting seminars on Saturday. Sunday’s activities include a worship service and the popular fun dog show and parade.
About the Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival & Games
The 33rd annual Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games will be held on May 16-18 on the campus of historic Maryville College, in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains and just 20 minutes from downtown Knoxville. The event will include Highland heavy athletics, Highland dancing, piping, drumming, musical entertainers, food and merchandise, Clans, Heritage Organizations, animal exhibits, and much more. The Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games is 501c(3) tax exempt charitable organization formed to provide education about Scottish heritage and the contribution of Scots to America. For more information, please visit www.smokymountaingames.org.