The Savannah Scottish Games: Where History and the Present Meet

𝐁𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐧

 The 46th Annual Savannah Scottish Games will be held May 4, 2024, at Bethesda Academy at Savannah, Georgia. As you enter Bethesda’s beautiful, spacious grounds overlooking the Moon River, be prepared to spend the day enjoying a variety of entertainment for the entire family.

Heavy athletes who like to throw heavy things compete in seven events, including the famous 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐬𝐬.

Next, take in the 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 at the dance venue. The best southeastern U.S. Highland dancers are competing for slots at the nationals, and will demonstrate the strength and beauty of this ancient method of testing warriors’ stamina and agility before, and after, battle.

𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 returns to the games this year. The thrilling and haunting music of the bagpipe is the soul of Scotland. Coupled with the drums, the sound of bagpipes becomes even more enthralling.

𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 can also enjoy phenomenal performances by bands including North of Argyll, Lochlann, and Junkfield Monkey Stew (Stewart & Winfield, Junkyard Angel, Monkey Man: A Stones Band). North of Argyll plays upbeat Celtic fusion music with great visual delivery and retelling of the history of the stories behind the songs. Lochlann’ musicians sing and harmonize Celtic songs accompanied by fiddles, recorders, flutes, guitars, and the bodhran.

The Savannah Scottish Games also has many 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬. They may encounter Zephyr, a mythical fairy, and then listen to a wide selection of Scottish tales. Children can participate in golf, hockey, a sheaf toss, caber toss, haggis hurl, stone throw, welly toss, and a sack race. A children’s kilted run is held on the athletic field. Lads and lassies are also offered a Games Passport at the front gate to be redeemed for a prize at the information tent.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 are always crowd favorites!

The Shire of Fort Castle makes 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 through medieval activities, such as armed combat, dance, and juggling. You can learn ancient arts like calligraphy, armoring, and metalworking. Clan Nom Con bring Scottish Highlanders of the 1736-1746 era so watch out for these Scottish Highlanders because they were known as some of the best soldiers in the world!

If you’ve ever wondered if you have a bit of the Scots in you or are interested in a specific clan or clans, visit the many 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 surrounding the Scottish Games arena. There’s also a genealogy tent to help trace your family tree.

The Savannah Scottish Games also has 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 vendors offering traditional Scottish foods, American foods, sweets, craft beers, and mead. The 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 has 15 plus vendors who sell Celtic goods including a T-shirt commemorating the event.

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟒! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝟖:𝟒𝟓 𝐚.𝐦. 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝟒:𝟑𝟎 𝐩.𝐦. Visit SavannahScottishGames.com for more information.